Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Selenium

New London Department of Public Utilities

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

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
2018-11-2928420IOC1ND
2018-11-2928425IOCRND
2019-11-2030473IOC1ND
2019-11-2030469IOCRND
2020-12-0132746IOC1ND
2020-12-0132743IOCRND
2021-10-2734801IOC1ND
2021-10-2734800IOCRND
2022-09-1536582IOC1ND
2022-09-1536581IOCRND
2023-09-1438752IOC1ND
2023-09-1438758IOCRND