Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Selenium

Sugarloaf Water Association

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.

 

14

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND10ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-09-04401802596ND
2018-11-06401803359ND
2019-09-04401903057ND
2020-06-22452000618ND
2020-06-22452000617ND
2020-06-22452000616CND
2021-06-10452100721CND
2021-06-10452100720CND
2021-10-062116626-01ND
2022-12-20452201857CND
2022-12-20452201857ND
2023-06-13452301008CND
2023-06-13452301007CND
2023-11-22452302351CND