Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Selenium

City of Auburn

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.

 

27

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND70ND
2022ND70ND
2023ND70ND

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
2018-08-15ND
2018-08-15ND
2018-08-15ND
2018-08-15ND
2018-08-15ND
2018-08-15ND
2021-08-044216833ND
2021-08-044216833ND
2021-08-044159330ND
2021-08-044159328ND
2021-08-044173037ND
2021-08-044173039ND
2021-08-044173036ND
2022-08-044364198ND
2022-08-044364193ND
2022-08-044366173ND
2022-08-044364200ND
2022-08-044364200ND
2022-08-044366174ND
2022-08-044364199ND
2023-08-034511128ND
2023-08-034511146ND
2023-08-034511142ND
2023-08-034511142ND
2023-08-034511136ND
2023-08-094511064ND
2023-08-094511063ND