Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Hemlock 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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

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

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
2018-09-06CA1910053_001_001-201809060910ND
2018-09-06CA1910053_002_002-201809060850ND
2019-09-09CA1910053_002_002-201909091025ND
2019-09-09CA1910053_001_001-201909091030ND
2020-09-02CA1910053_002_002-202009020805ND
2020-09-02CA1910053_001_001-202009020820ND
2021-07-07CA1910053_002_002-202107071100ND
2021-07-07CA1910053_001_001-202107071110ND
2022-07-07CA1910053_001_001-202207071105ND
2022-07-07CA1910053_002_002-202207071045ND
2023-07-21CA1910053_002_002-202307210945ND
2023-07-21CA1910053_001_001-202307211000ND