Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Brent Utilities Board

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.

 

47

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND90ND
2021ND80ND
2022ND100ND
2023ND100ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-01-291801290007-1ND
2018-04-30810430018-1ND
2018-09-2418090637-001AND
2018-10-3018100645-001AND
2019-01-2219010559-001AND
2019-04-2619040700-001AND
2019-07-2620114440001_IVOCND
2019-07-2620114443001_IVOCND
2019-10-0420124548001_IVOCND
2019-10-0420124549001_IVOCND
2020-03-0920145687004_IVOCND
2020-03-0920145687003_IVOCND
2020-03-0920145687002_IVOCND
2020-03-0920145687001_IVOCND
2020-05-1920155148001_IVOCND
2020-05-1920155148002_IVOCND
2020-07-0720161416002_IVOCND
2020-10-2720177359001_IVOCND
2020-10-2720177359002_IVOCND
2021-02-2535614541001_IVOCND
2021-02-2535614541002_IVOCND
2021-04-1935626991001_IVOCND
2021-04-1935626998001_IVOCND
2021-07-2735650493001ND
2021-07-2735650493002ND
2021-10-2235672325001_IVOCND
2021-10-2235672329001_IVOCND
2022-03-1035702618001_IVOCND
2022-03-1035703015002_IVOCND
2022-05-2335719603001_IVOCND
2022-05-2335719603002_IVOCND
2022-06-1335724366001_IVOCND
2022-06-1335724366002_IVOCND
2022-08-2635742678001_IVOCND
2022-08-2635742678002_IVOCND
2022-10-2435755187001_IVOCND
2022-10-2435755187002_IVOCND
2023-01-2435774467001_IVOCND
2023-01-2435774467002_IVOCND
2023-01-2435774467003_IVOCND
2023-01-2435774467004_IVOCND
2023-05-1935800886001_IVOCND
2023-05-1935800886002_IVOCND
2023-07-3135816711001_IVOCND
2023-07-3135816711002_IVOCND
2023-10-2035836003001_IVOCND
2023-10-2035836003002_IVOCND