Selenium
Selenium is found naturally in food and soils. It is used in electronics, photocopy operations, glass manufacturing, chemicals, drugs, and as a fungicide and feed additive. It can cause dermatitis or affect the nervous system.
Selenium is a metal found in natural deposits as ores containing other elements. The greatest use of selenium compounds is in electronic and photocopier components, but they are also widely used in glass, pigments, rubber, metal alloys, textiles, petroleum, medical therapeutic agents, and photographic emulsions.
What Do The Results Mean? Is Selenium Regulated?
The MCLG for selenium has been set at 0.05 parts per million (ppm) because EPA believes this level of protection would not cause any of the potential health problems described below. Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible, considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies. The MCL has been set at 0.05 ppm because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water.
How Can You Test For Selenium?
Laboratories analyzing drinking water samples can utilize US EPA method 200.8 which utilize an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) or the Standards Method 31138 which uses Graphite Furnace.
Water Treatment Options
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of selenium so that it is consistently below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA for removing selenium: Activated Alumina, Coagulation/Filtration, Lime Softening, Reverse Osmosis.
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