Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Gurdon Waterworks

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.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND30ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-01-2218025000709ND
2019-01-2319024002009ND
2019-01-2319024002101ND
2019-04-3019122001708ND
2019-08-0619220001809ND
2019-09-0319248000101ND
2019-11-1819324000209ND
2020-02-0420037002101ND
2020-02-0420037002001ND
2020-02-0420037002201ND
2021-02-0921041002401ND
2021-02-0921041002108ND
2022-01-1022013000101ND
2022-01-1122013002609ND
2022-10-03O202442-VOC-1ND
2023-02-13O206441-VOC-1ND
2023-02-13O206442-VOC-1ND
2023-02-13O206443-VOC-1ND