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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Waldorf

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.

 

35

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
20141.03 ppb163ND - 6.10 ppb
2015ND10ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND10ND

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
2014-01-02140102_03_1066146.10 ppb
2014-01-02140102_12_106614ND
2014-02-11140211_06_1071605.20 ppb
2014-02-11140211_06_1071605.20 ppb
2014-02-11140211_15_107160ND
2014-02-11140211_15_107160ND
2014-02-11140211_11_107160ND
2014-02-11140211_11_107160ND
2014-03-04140304_05_107463ND
2014-03-04140304_14_107463ND
2014-03-04140304_08_107463ND
2014-03-24140324_10_107831ND
2014-03-24140324_07_107831ND
2014-04-08140408_09_200072ND
2014-04-08140408_09_200072ND
2014-08-20140820_01_16972-ND
2015-09-0922992_000001ND
2016-05-24E16004485002ND
2016-05-24E16004485003ND
2016-10-24E17001817002ND
2016-10-24E17001817004ND
2016-10-24E17001817003ND
2017-01-0329500_000001ND
2017-01-0529625_0001ND
2017-02-1030156_000001ND
2017-02-1030155_000001ND
2017-02-1030157_000001ND
2017-03-2330750_000001ND
2017-03-2330749_000001ND
2017-03-2330747_000001ND
2017-04-1831134_000001ND
2017-08-2333108_000001ND
2018-03-0135871_000001ND
2018-09-042336839001ND
2019-06-13E19004306004ND