Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Selenium

Valley Utilities Water Company Glendale

Selenium is an essential element in diets. But too much selenium can decrease thyroid hormone production and cause hair loss, skin lesions and brittle fingernails.

 

8

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20182.00 ppb41ND - 8.00 ppb
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND20ND
20226.00 ppb116.00 ppb
2023ND10ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 30 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 30 ppb for selenium was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against hair loss and nail damage.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 50 ppb

The legal limit for selenium, established in 1991, was based on human epidemiological studies of populations exposed to naturally occurring selenium in drinking water. This limit does not include any additional consideration of children’s health.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-03-01201803010276I8.00 ppb
2018-03-01201803010277IND
2018-03-07201803070704IND
2018-03-07201803070705IND
2021-03-03202103040011IND
2021-03-03202103040012IND
2022-02-02202202030108I6.00 ppb
2023-02-02380-36417-3ND