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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Eureka

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

 

56

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND130ND
2015ND90ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND110ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-01-28AC17703ND
2014-01-28AC17702ND
2014-01-28AC17704ND
2014-04-30AC22515ND
2014-04-30AC22516ND
2014-04-30AC22517ND
2014-07-30AC30062ND
2014-07-30AC30063ND
2014-07-30AC30064ND
2014-08-20AC33710ND
2014-10-28AC37317ND
2014-10-28AC37318ND
2014-10-28AC37319ND
2015-01-30AC41366ND
2015-01-30AC41365ND
2015-04-29AC45799ND
2015-04-29AC45798ND
2015-08-19AC58580ND
2015-08-19AC58581ND
2015-09-29AC60323ND
2015-10-29AC62082ND
2015-10-29AC62083ND
2016-01-29AC65841ND
2016-01-29AC65842ND
2016-04-28AC70157ND
2016-04-28AC70156ND
2016-08-03AC80846ND
2016-08-03AC80845ND
2016-10-24AC86077ND
2016-10-24AC86078ND
2017-01-23AC89907ND
2017-01-23AC89908ND
2017-04-26AC95128ND
2017-04-26AC95129ND
2017-07-26AD02413ND
2017-07-26AD02414ND
2017-08-15AD04262ND
2017-08-15AD04260ND
2017-08-15AD04261ND
2017-10-30AD08623ND
2017-10-30AD08622ND
2018-01-22AD12092ND
2018-01-22AD12091ND
2018-05-08AD18727ND
2018-05-08AD18728ND
2018-07-12AD29644ND
2018-07-12AD29645ND
2018-09-14AD33875ND
2019-01-16AD38511ND
2019-01-16AD38512ND
2019-04-17AD46829ND
2019-04-17AD46830ND
2019-07-18AD52843ND
2019-07-18AD52844ND
2019-10-24AD57534ND
2019-10-24AD57535ND