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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Southern California Edison Company-Santa Catalina

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

 

59

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND120ND
2015ND90ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND100ND
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
2014-06-199588-041-1115ND
2014-07-109588-012-1030ND
2014-07-179588-020-1425ND
2014-07-179588-019-1250ND
2014-07-189588-030-1215ND
2014-07-189588-023-1100ND
2014-07-189588-016-1130ND
2014-07-189588-012-1250ND
2014-07-189588-006-1100ND
2014-07-219588-014-1130ND
2014-10-229588-012-1100ND
2014-11-049588-005-1111ND
2015-06-039588-020-1225ND
2015-06-039588-019-0940ND
2015-06-039588-030-1045ND
2015-06-039588-016-1030ND
2015-06-049588-014-1205ND
2015-06-049588-006-1250ND
2015-06-049588-005-1130ND
2015-06-059588-012-1230ND
2015-06-119588-041-1145ND
2016-06-229588-030-1100ND
2016-06-229588-020-1040ND
2016-06-229588-005-1300ND
2016-06-229588-006-1235ND
2016-06-229588-019-1000ND
2016-06-229588-014-1220ND
2016-06-229588-016-1120ND
2016-09-139588-005-0920ND
2017-02-249588-031-1147ND
2017-05-189588-023-1100ND
2017-05-189588-031-1100ND
2017-06-229588-014-1130ND
2017-06-239588-023-1030ND
2017-06-239588-019-1000ND
2017-06-239588-020-1330ND
2017-06-239588-030-1105ND
2017-06-239588-016-1040ND
2017-06-269588-031-1200ND
2018-06-229588-005-1240ND
2018-06-229588-006-1215ND
2018-06-259588-031-1220ND
2018-06-259588-014-1120ND
2018-06-259588-020-1200ND
2018-06-259588-019-1030ND
2018-06-259588-030-1120ND
2018-06-259588-016-1210ND
2018-06-259588-023-1030ND
2018-06-269588-012-1100ND
2019-09-199588-020-1200ND
2019-09-199588-023-1010ND
2019-09-199588-019-1310ND
2019-09-269588-031-1230ND
2019-09-269588-030-1225ND
2019-09-269588-014-1100ND
2019-09-269588-016-1215ND
2019-10-249588-006-1020ND
2019-11-269588-023-1200ND
2019-12-119588-012-1100ND