Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Selenium

North Texas Municipal Water District Wylie Water Treatment Plant

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
2018ND30ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

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
2018-01-23Q1802554001ND
2018-09-17Q1836833003ND
2018-09-17Q1836833004ND
2019-01-15Q1902044006ND
2019-01-15Q1902044007ND
2020-03-10Q2009279004ND
2020-03-10Q2009279005ND
2021-01-28Q2102310006ND
2021-01-28Q2102310007ND
2021-09-23Q2126118002ND
2022-03-22Q2209138005ND
2022-03-22Q2209138009ND
2023-02-22Q2307413007ND
2023-08-22Q2335430010ND