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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Aqua Pa Bristol

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.

 

8

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
2014ND10ND
20150.600 ppb21ND - 1.20 ppb
2016ND10ND
2017ND10ND
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
2014-11-21AE57353ND
2015-02-2612387506ND
2015-02-26123875161.20 ppb
2016-02-1713855872ND
2017-02-2215779063ND
2018-02-22AF76987ND
2018-03-02AF77661ND
2019-02-22AG09495ND