Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Selenium

Americus

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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND40ND
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
2014-05-28AI41653ND
2014-08-28AI51841ND
2014-11-11AI59379ND
2015-02-19AI65262ND
2015-04-28AI75759ND
2015-08-11AI86048ND
2015-11-05AJ00572ND
2016-02-24AJ07081ND
2016-04-14AJ10157ND
2016-06-06AJ13494ND
2016-08-01AJ20487ND
2016-10-18AJ31623ND
2017-01-30AJ43731ND
2017-05-03AJ54699ND
2017-07-25AJ61685ND
2017-11-20AJ74108ND
2018-03-06AJ85119ND
2018-05-21AJ89846ND
2019-05-02AK16278ND
2019-05-02AK16279ND