Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Averydale Mutual Water Company

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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-02-06CA1910023_004_004-201802061330ND
2018-02-20CA1910023_004_004-201802201400ND
2018-08-21CA1910023_001_001-201808211318ND
2018-08-21CA1910023_006_006-201808211324ND
2018-08-21CA1910023_003_003-201808211241ND
2019-02-19CA1910023_004_004-201902191302ND
2019-08-20CA1910023_006_006-201908201426ND
2019-08-20CA1910023_001_001-201908201422ND
2019-08-20CA1910023_003_003-201908201400ND
2020-02-18CA1910023_004_004-202002181305ND
2020-08-18CA1910023_003_003-202008181300ND
2020-08-18CA1910023_006_006-202008181334ND
2020-08-18CA1910023_001_001-202008181317ND
2021-02-16CA1910023_004_004-202102161355ND
2021-08-17CA1910023_001_001-202108171450ND
2021-08-17CA1910023_003_003-202108171430ND
2021-08-17CA1910023_006_006-202108171454ND
2022-02-22CA1910023_004_004-202202221258ND
2022-08-16CA1910023_006_006-202208161254ND
2022-08-16CA1910023_003_003-202208161240ND
2022-08-16CA1910023_001_001-202208161250ND
2023-02-21CA1910023_004_004-202302211250ND
2023-08-15CA1910023_001_001-202308151400ND
2023-08-15CA1910023_003_003-202308151340ND
2023-08-15CA1910023_006_006-202308151405ND