Selenium

Tallulah Water System

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2014	N/A	0	N/A
2015	N/A	0	N/A
2016	ND	10	ND
2017	ND	2	ND
2018	ND	14	ND
2019	ND	2	ND

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
2016-02-23	35231300003	ND
2016-02-23	35231300001	ND
2016-02-23	35231300002	ND
2016-02-23	35231300003	ND
2016-02-23	35231300004	ND
2016-02-23	35231300002	ND
2016-02-23	35231300001	ND
2016-02-23	35231300004	ND
2016-12-02	35282272026	ND
2016-12-02	35282272026	ND
2017-03-06	35300115007	ND
2017-03-06	35300115007	ND
2018-06-22	35400056001	ND
2018-06-22	35400056001	ND
2018-09-19	35419847001	ND
2018-09-19	35419847001	ND
2018-10-22	35426078004	ND
2018-10-22	35426078003	ND
2018-10-22	35426078002	ND
2018-10-22	35426078002	ND
2018-10-22	35426078003	ND
2018-10-22	35426078004	ND
2018-10-22	35426078005	ND
2018-10-22	35426078005	ND
2018-11-05	35429984007	ND
2018-11-05	35429984007	ND
2019-10-04	35502824005	ND
2019-10-04	35502824005	ND