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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Griffin

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
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND20ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-02-25AI28627ND
2014-02-25AI28735ND
2015-01-27AI63626ND
2015-02-10AI64715ND
2016-01-27AJ05145ND
2016-02-08AJ06091ND
2017-02-09AJ46223ND
2017-02-13AJ46346ND
2018-02-12AJ83741ND
2018-02-13AJ83859ND
2019-02-05AK10499ND
2019-04-22AK15585ND