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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

West Escambia Utilities Inc.

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.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

76

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND120ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND130ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND140ND
2019ND130ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.5 ppb

The EWG 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.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 100 ppb

The legal limit for styrene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1970s. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to styrene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-03-20140321019-3ND
2014-03-20140321019-1ND
2014-03-20140321019-4ND
2014-03-20140321019-2ND
2014-06-16140617020-1ND
2014-06-16140617020-2ND
2014-09-18140919015-1ND
2014-09-18140919015-3ND
2014-09-18140919015-2ND
2014-12-16141217030-2ND
2014-12-16141217030-3ND
2014-12-16141217030-1ND
2015-03-18150319029-4ND
2015-03-18150319029-5ND
2015-03-18150319029-1ND
2015-03-18150319029-6ND
2015-06-18150619017-2ND
2015-06-18150619017-1ND
2015-09-24150925030-3ND
2015-09-24150925030-2ND
2015-09-24150925030-1ND
2015-12-21151222011-2ND
2015-12-21151222011-3ND
2015-12-21151222011-1ND
2016-03-24160325009-1ND
2016-03-24160325009-2ND
2016-03-24160325009-3ND
2016-03-24160325009-4ND
2016-06-20160621026-2ND
2016-06-20160621026-1ND
2016-06-20160621026-3ND
2016-09-22160923020-1ND
2016-09-22160923020-3ND
2016-09-22160923020-2ND
2016-12-20161221021-1ND
2016-12-20161221021-2ND
2016-12-20161221021-3ND
2017-03-21170322042-3ND
2017-03-21170322042-1ND
2017-03-21170322042-4ND
2017-03-21170322042-2ND
2017-06-19170620030-2ND
2017-06-19170620030-1ND
2017-09-21170922003-2ND
2017-09-21170922003-1ND
2017-09-21170922003-3ND
2017-12-20171221038-1ND
2017-12-20171221038-3ND
2017-12-20171221038-2ND
2018-03-19180320039-4ND
2018-03-19180320039-1ND
2018-03-19180320039-2ND
2018-03-19180320039-3ND
2018-06-18180619008-001ND
2018-06-18180619008-2ND
2018-06-18180619008-1ND
2018-06-18180619008-002ND
2018-09-2018090606-002AND
2018-09-2018090606-001AND
2018-09-2018090606-003AND
2018-10-1618100509-002AND
2018-10-1618100509-003AND
2018-10-1618100509-001AND
2019-03-1819030538-002AND
2019-03-1819030538-004AND
2019-03-1819030538-003AND
2019-03-1819030538-001AND
2019-06-0620107326001_IVOCND
2019-06-0620107326002_IVOCND
2019-07-2220113944002_IVOCND
2019-07-2220113944001_IVOCND
2019-07-2220113944003_IVOCND
2019-12-1720135288004_IVOCND
2019-12-1720135288002_IVOCND
2019-12-1720135288001_IVOCND
2019-12-1720135288003_IVOCND