Selenium

Salt Lake City 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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

116

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	0	N/A
2014	1.56 ppb	14	14	0.900 ppb - 4.10 ppb
2015	1.17 ppb	16	15	ND - 2.20 ppb
2016	1.39 ppb	25	25	0.600 ppb - 3.30 ppb
2017	ND	24	0	ND
2018	ND	16	0	ND
2019	1.05 ppb	21	19	ND - 3.00 ppb

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	Result
2014-01-10	1.90 ppb
2014-05-23	4.10 ppb
2014-05-30	0.900 ppb
2014-05-30	1.40 ppb
2014-06-03	1.40 ppb
2014-06-11	1.60 ppb
2014-06-25	1.50 ppb
2014-06-25	1.40 ppb
2014-07-01	1.000 ppb
2014-07-01	1.60 ppb
2014-07-02	1.60 ppb
2014-07-09	1.20 ppb
2014-07-09	1.10 ppb
2014-07-09	1.10 ppb
2015-01-23	0.600 ppb
2015-01-23	ND
2015-01-30	2.20 ppb
2015-01-30	2.00 ppb
2015-02-27	1.90 ppb
2015-05-01	0.800 ppb
2015-05-08	0.900 ppb
2015-05-15	1.000 ppb
2015-06-19	0.800 ppb
2015-06-19	1.40 ppb
2015-06-19	1.000 ppb
2015-06-19	1.50 ppb
2015-07-10	1.10 ppb
2015-07-10	0.700 ppb
2015-07-10	1.000 ppb
2015-07-17	1.80 ppb
2016-01-08	0.600 ppb
2016-01-08	0.800 ppb
2016-01-15	1.50 ppb
2016-02-12	0.800 ppb
2016-02-26	1.60 ppb
2016-03-25	1.000 ppb
2016-05-19	0.600 ppb
2016-05-19	1.10 ppb
2016-06-03	1.90 ppb
2016-06-03	2.00 ppb
2016-06-10	2.20 ppb
2016-06-10	1.30 ppb
2016-06-10	2.20 ppb
2016-06-24	1.70 ppb
2016-06-24	1.000 ppb
2016-06-24	1.90 ppb
2016-06-28	3.30 ppb
2016-06-28	1.60 ppb
2016-07-08	0.700 ppb
2016-07-08	1.20 ppb
2016-07-13	1.000 ppb
2016-07-29	1.20 ppb
2016-07-29	1.40 ppb
2016-07-29	1.40 ppb
2016-09-08	0.700 ppb
2017-01-13	ND
2017-01-13	ND
2017-01-20	ND
2017-01-20	ND
2017-03-03	ND
2017-03-24	ND
2017-06-09	ND
2017-06-09	ND
2017-06-16	ND
2017-06-16	ND
2017-06-16	ND
2017-06-20	ND
2017-06-23	ND
2017-06-30	ND
2017-06-30	ND
2017-07-14	ND
2017-07-14	ND
2017-07-21	ND
2017-07-21	ND
2017-08-03	ND
2017-08-08	ND
2017-08-08	ND
2017-08-22	ND
2017-08-23	ND
2018-05-25	ND
2018-05-25	ND
2018-06-01	ND
2018-06-01	ND
2018-06-05	ND
2018-06-12	ND
2018-06-13	ND
2018-06-14	ND
2018-06-15	ND
2018-06-15	ND
2018-06-20	ND
2018-06-20	ND
2018-06-26	ND
2018-06-26	ND
2018-06-29	ND
2018-07-11	ND
2019-01-11	ND
2019-01-11	0.700 ppb
2019-02-01	ND
2019-04-26	3.00 ppb
2019-05-03	0.900 ppb
2019-05-31	2.20 ppb
2019-06-19	1.30 ppb
2019-06-19	0.800 ppb
2019-06-21	0.700 ppb
2019-06-25	1.30 ppb
2019-06-26	0.700 ppb
2019-06-27	0.900 ppb
2019-07-03	0.800 ppb
2019-07-03	0.600 ppb
2019-07-23	1.40 ppb
2019-07-23	1.50 ppb
2019-07-23	0.800 ppb
2019-07-23	0.800 ppb
2019-08-07	0.800 ppb
2019-08-16	1.40 ppb
2019-08-16	1.40 ppb