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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Pico Rivera Water Department

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

 

61

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND130ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND90ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-01-219588-002-1000ND
2014-01-239588-006-0920ND
2014-01-309588-012-1020ND
2014-04-239588-008-1035ND
2014-04-239588-002-0950ND
2014-04-249588-012-1029ND
2014-04-249588-007-0939ND
2014-09-169588-005-1119ND
2014-09-169588-004-1105ND
2014-09-169588-002-1002ND
2014-12-179588-002-0954ND
2014-12-189588-012-1050ND
2014-12-189588-009-1024ND
2015-02-269588-006-0958ND
2015-02-269588-002-1006ND
2015-03-059588-012-0906ND
2015-04-159588-008-1017ND
2015-04-159588-007-1028ND
2015-04-159588-002-0941ND
2015-04-299588-012-0940ND
2015-07-279588-002-0949ND
2015-07-279588-004-1145ND
2015-07-279588-005-1120ND
2015-07-289588-012-1109ND
2015-10-149588-012-1033ND
2015-10-149588-009-0917ND
2016-03-229588-006-0901ND
2016-03-249588-012-0940ND
2016-05-099588-007-1015ND
2016-05-099588-012-1115ND
2016-05-099588-008-1000ND
2016-07-219588-002-0844ND
2016-07-219588-012-1105ND
2016-07-219588-005-0950ND
2016-07-219588-004-1015ND
2016-11-099588-009-1144ND
2016-11-099588-012-0943ND
2017-02-099588-012-0945ND
2017-02-099588-006-1105ND
2017-04-249588-008-1015ND
2017-04-249588-007-1025ND
2017-07-259588-005-1027ND
2017-07-259588-002-0937ND
2017-07-259588-004-1046ND
2017-10-109588-009-1045ND
2017-10-109588-004-1120ND
2018-01-159588-006-0923ND
2018-04-179588-008-1035ND
2018-04-179588-007-1010ND
2018-07-269588-002-0919ND
2018-07-269588-005-1040ND
2018-07-269588-004-1100ND
2018-10-199588-009-1030ND
2019-01-309588-006-0900ND
2019-05-099588-008-0915ND
2019-05-239588-007-0920ND
2019-08-089588-004-1045ND
2019-08-089588-002-0905ND
2019-08-089588-005-1035ND
2019-11-259588-009-1140ND
2019-11-259588-002-0840ND