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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Paw Penn District

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
2014ND110ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND90ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND100ND

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
2014-01-0824408301ND
2014-01-0824408001ND
2014-01-0824410701ND
2014-01-0824410601ND
2014-01-0824409501ND
2014-01-0824410501ND
2014-01-0824410201ND
2014-01-0824410401ND
2014-04-0125339001ND
2014-07-0726114501ND
2014-10-0127103201ND
2015-01-0212315831ND
2015-01-0212315873ND
2015-01-0212315852ND
2015-01-0212315810ND
2015-01-0212315789ND
2015-04-0312660717ND
2015-07-0913043455ND
2015-10-0113419758ND
2016-01-0613783268ND
2016-01-0613783247ND
2016-01-0613783226ND
2016-01-0613783184ND
2016-01-0613783205ND
2016-04-0414139318ND
2016-04-1814139340ND
2016-07-1314610375ND
2016-10-0315112445ND
2017-01-0415551708ND
2017-01-0415551729ND
2017-01-0415551687ND
2017-01-0415551750ND
2017-01-0415551655ND
2017-01-0415551771ND
2017-01-0415551634ND
2017-04-0515975953ND
2017-07-0616450368ND
2017-10-1116915022ND
2018-01-1138161501ND
2018-01-1138161401ND
2018-01-1138161301ND
2018-01-1138161201ND
2018-01-1138161101ND
2018-04-1139072601ND
2018-07-1640207301ND
2018-10-1741961701ND
2019-01-0942499301ND
2019-01-0942499401ND
2019-01-0942499501ND
2019-01-0942499201ND
2019-01-0942499601ND
2019-04-0143658101ND
2019-07-0845016101ND
2019-07-1545716201ND
2019-10-0746831501ND
2019-10-3143999801ND