Styrene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Styrene is a volatile cancer-causing chemical used for manufacturing Styrofoam (polystyrene) and other plastics. Releases from industrial production sites and hazardous waste landfills cause styrene contamination in drinking water. Read More.
In addition to increasing the risk of cancer, styrene can also damage the liver and the nervous system. California set a public health goal for styrene in drinking water at 0.5 parts per billion. The federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) allows up to 100 parts per billion of styrene in water, which is 200 times more than the California recommended level.
2015:
15
states detected
53
utilities detected
130,000
people served
8
states over health guideline
13
utilities over health guideline
4,327
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for styrene
Cancer
Harm to the liver
Harm to the brain and nervous system
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 0.5 ppb
The health guideline of 0.5 ppb for styrene 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 cancer.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 100 ppb
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal (MCLG)100 ppb
A non-enforceable federal health guideline. For cancer-causing chemicals, these health goals are typically set to zero.
ppb = parts per billion.
States reporting styrene in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 0 | 0 | 2 | 101,079 | |||
| New York | 5 | 1,265 | 12 | 13,487 | |||
| Texas | 1 | 96 | 4 | 5,604 | |||
| Wisconsin | 1 | 35 | 23 | 4,177 | |||
| Iowa | 2 | 1,971 | 2 | 1,971 | |||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1,338 | |||
| Missouri | 1 | 523 | 1 | 523 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 1 | 468 | |||
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 1 | 456 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 1 | 350 | |||
| North Carolina | 1 | 210 | 1 | 210 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 1 | 170 | |||
| Oklahoma | 1 | 170 | 1 | 170 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 57 | 1 | 57 | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 1 | 27 | |||
Utilities with the highest amounts of styrene, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timberline Shores | Gaston, NC | 4 of 4 | 3.15 ppb | 210 |
| 52nd Ave Water Group | Kenosha, WI | 2 of 5 | 1.88 ppb | 35 |
| Corydon Water Supply | Corydon, IA | 1 of 1 | 1.40 ppb | 1,585 |
| Whispering Pines Mobile Estates | Saratoga Springs, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.800 ppb | 80 |
| Churdan Water Supply | Churdan, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.800 ppb | 386 |
| Mannsville Village | Mannsville, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.800 ppb | 450 |
| Parkerville East Mobile Home Park | Lancaster, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.780 ppb | 96 |
| Clearview Mobile Home Park | Moore, OK | 2 of 5 | 0.700 ppb | 170 |
| Country Acres Mobile Park | Rock City Falls, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.700 ppb | 125 |
| Blue Stone Acres Mobile Home Park | Stamford, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.600 ppb | 180 |
| Bloomsdale | Bloomsdale, MO | 1 of 1 | 0.570 ppb | 523 |
| New Life Youth&family Services | Schwenksville, PA | 3 of 6 | 0.567 ppb | 57 |
| Springwater Water District | Springwater, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.550 ppb | 430 |
| Montgomery County UD 4* | Houston, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 4,491 |
| Clyde Village | Clyde, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 2,269 |
| Holiday Mobile Park Inc. | Wappingers Falls, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.500 ppb | 250 |
| Club Island Association | Celina, OH | 1 of 2 | 0.415 ppb | 170 |
| Markridge Park Subdivision Water System | Duson, LA | 2 of 4 | 0.380 ppb | 468 |
| North San Saba Water Supply Corporation | San Saba, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.367 ppb | 891 |
| IL American-saunemin | Creve Coeur, IL | 1 of 2 | 0.350 ppb | 456 |
| Alberta Subdivision | Thiensville, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.350 ppb | 75 |
| Calam - Walnut Grove | Sacramento, CA | 1 of 2 | 0.350 ppb | 644 |
| Grand Ave Apartments | Thiensville, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.340 ppb | 80 |
| Country Acres Mobile Home Pk | Lake Mills, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.340 ppb | 160 |
| Watermark Condominiums | Elm Grove, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.340 ppb | 25 |
| Century Estates 1 | Thiensville, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.340 ppb | 130 |
| Country Terrace Condo Homes | Mequon, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.330 ppb | 160 |
| Pioneer Centre | Muskego, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.330 ppb | 140 |
| Nashotah House | Delafield, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.330 ppb | 125 |
| Lannon Estates Mobile Home Park | Lannon, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.300 ppb | 300 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Styrene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal-water Service Company - Chico | Chico, CA | 1 of 132 | 0.00636 ppb | 100,435 |