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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Acton MUD

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.

 

38

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND10ND
2015ND40ND
20160.179 ppb141ND - 2.50 ppb
2017ND20ND
2018ND50ND
2019ND120ND

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
2014-08-18Q1437417001ND
2015-02-09Q1504919047ND
2015-02-09Q1504919046ND
2015-02-09Q1504919045ND
2015-10-27Q1542356015ND
2016-01-19Q16020840472.50 ppb
2016-01-19Q1602084048ND
2016-01-19Q1602084049ND
2016-01-19Q1602084050ND
2016-01-19Q1602084038ND
2016-01-19Q1602084039ND
2016-01-19Q1602084040ND
2016-01-19Q1602084041ND
2016-01-19Q1602084042ND
2016-01-19Q1602084043ND
2016-01-19Q1602084044ND
2016-01-19Q1602084045ND
2016-01-19Q1602084046ND
2016-05-31Q1621309009ND
2017-08-31Q1740574046ND
2017-10-05Q1749124021ND
2018-03-28Q1812936032ND
2018-03-28Q1812936031ND
2018-03-28Q1812936030ND
2018-03-28Q1812936053ND
2018-03-28Q1812936029ND
2019-01-10Q1901506005ND
2019-01-10Q1901506011ND
2019-03-26Q1912275052ND
2019-03-26Q1912275061ND
2019-03-26Q1912275060ND
2019-03-26Q1912275059ND
2019-03-26Q1912275058ND
2019-03-26Q1912275057ND
2019-03-26Q1912275056ND
2019-03-26Q1912275055ND
2019-03-26Q1912275054ND
2019-03-26Q1912275053ND