Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Selenium

Danbury Water Department

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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-04-12212690GEND
2018-04-12212687GEND
2018-10-12IOC1 200508940ND
2018-10-12IOC1 200508939ND
2019-04-11IOC1 200528182ND
2019-04-11IOC1 200528181ND
2019-04-11IOCR 200528185ND
2019-04-11IOCR 200528187ND
2019-05-16IOCR 200532591AND
2020-08-20IOCR 200587329ND
2020-08-20IOCR 200587327ND
2020-08-20IOC1 200587328ND
2020-08-20IOC1 200587330ND
2021-04-15IOC1 200613297ND
2021-04-15IOC1 200613295ND
2021-04-15IOCR 200613294ND
2021-04-15IOCR 200613296ND
2022-06-07287329ND
2022-06-07287325ND
2022-06-07287323ND
2022-06-07287327ND
2023-01-12304532ND
2023-01-12304533ND
2023-05-15N3E0590-02PPSND
2023-05-15N3E0590-01PPSND