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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Carolina Beach 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.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND90ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND90ND

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
2016-12-1437729_16-43547ND
2016-12-1437729_16-43550ND
2016-12-1437729_16-43554ND
2016-12-1437729_16-43557ND
2016-12-1437729_16-43567ND
2016-12-1437729_16-43571ND
2016-12-1437729_16-43573ND
2016-12-1437729_16-43574ND
2016-12-1437729_16-43539ND
2019-12-0237729_19-51260 ND
2019-12-0237729_19-51259 ND
2019-12-0237729_19-51258 ND
2019-12-0237729_19-51257 ND
2019-12-0237729_19-51256 ND
2019-12-0237729_19-51255 ND
2019-12-0237729_19-51254 ND
2019-12-0237729_19-51253 ND
2019-12-0237729_19-51251 ND