Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Selenium

Wallingford 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.

 

16

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND40ND
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
2018-03-12CA01121ND
2018-03-12CA01122ND
2018-03-12CA01120ND
2018-07-17CA91980-02ND
2019-03-06CC62592-01ND
2019-03-06CC62593ND
2020-03-02CF41927ND
2020-03-02CF41926ND
2021-01-06CH41480ND
2021-01-06CH41478ND
2021-01-06CH41481ND
2021-02-03CH55990ND
2022-02-02CK28223ND
2022-02-02CK28222ND
2023-02-08CN38363ND
2023-02-08CN38364ND