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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Marshfield Water Department

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

 

156

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND260ND
2015ND270ND
2016ND210ND
2017ND300ND
2018ND260ND
2019ND260ND

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 Result
2014-02-07ND
2014-02-07ND
2014-02-07ND
2014-02-07ND
2014-02-07ND
2014-02-07ND
2014-02-07ND
2014-02-07ND
2014-03-25ND
2014-04-17ND
2014-04-29ND
2014-04-29ND
2014-04-29ND
2014-04-29ND
2014-04-29ND
2014-05-13ND
2014-08-06ND
2014-08-06ND
2014-08-06ND
2014-08-19ND
2014-10-10ND
2014-10-10ND
2014-10-10ND
2014-10-10ND
2014-11-06ND
2014-11-06ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-02-26ND
2015-03-13ND
2015-04-28ND
2015-05-14ND
2015-05-14ND
2015-05-14ND
2015-05-14ND
2015-05-14ND
2015-05-14ND
2015-08-06ND
2015-08-06ND
2015-08-06ND
2015-08-06ND
2015-10-16ND
2015-12-07ND
2015-12-07ND
2015-12-07ND
2015-12-11ND
2016-01-13ND
2016-02-18ND
2016-02-18ND
2016-02-18ND
2016-02-18ND
2016-02-18ND
2016-02-18ND
2016-02-18ND
2016-02-18ND
2016-02-18ND
2016-05-20ND
2016-05-24ND
2016-05-24ND
2016-05-24ND
2016-05-24ND
2016-09-08ND
2016-09-08ND
2016-09-09ND
2016-11-30ND
2016-11-30ND
2016-11-30ND
2017-02-02ND
2017-02-02ND
2017-02-02ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-03-01ND
2017-03-01ND
2017-05-11ND
2017-05-15ND
2017-05-24ND
2017-05-24ND
2017-05-24ND
2017-05-24ND
2017-09-13ND
2017-09-13ND
2017-09-13ND
2017-09-13ND
2017-11-16ND
2017-11-16ND
2017-11-16ND
2017-11-16ND
2017-11-16ND
2017-11-17ND
2018-02-14ND
2018-02-14ND
2018-02-14ND
2018-02-14ND
2018-02-14ND
2018-02-14ND
2018-02-16ND
2018-02-16ND
2018-02-16ND
2018-04-24ND
2018-05-04ND
2018-05-04ND
2018-05-04ND
2018-05-04ND
2018-05-04ND
2018-06-27ND
2018-09-04ND
2018-09-04ND
2018-09-04ND
2018-09-04ND
2018-10-17ND
2018-11-15ND
2018-11-15ND
2018-11-15ND
2018-11-15ND
2018-11-15ND
2019-01-03ND
2019-01-03ND
2019-01-03ND
2019-01-03ND
2019-01-03ND
2019-01-03ND
2019-01-03ND
2019-03-01ND
2019-03-01ND
2019-03-01ND
2019-04-12ND
2019-06-05ND
2019-06-05ND
2019-06-05ND
2019-06-05ND
2019-06-07ND
2019-09-05ND
2019-09-05ND
2019-09-05ND
2019-09-05ND
2019-10-22ND
2019-11-22ND
2019-11-22ND
2019-11-22ND
2019-11-22ND
2019-12-20ND