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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Suburban Water Systems - Whittier

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

 

51

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
2014ND140ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND60ND

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
2014-01-099588-014-1520ND
2014-02-069588-014-1020ND
2014-03-109588-014-1501ND
2014-04-079588-014-1304ND
2014-05-129588-014-1106ND
2014-05-199588-035-0900ND
2014-05-199588-033-0925ND
2014-05-199588-031-0915ND
2014-05-199588-020-1010ND
2014-06-169588-014-1400ND
2014-07-079588-014-1118ND
2014-08-049588-014-1305ND
2014-09-109588-014-1315ND
2014-10-169588-014-1140ND
2015-03-139588-014-1105ND
2015-04-239588-014-0950ND
2015-05-229588-031-0930ND
2015-05-229588-020-1000ND
2015-05-229588-035-0920ND
2015-06-179588-033-0855ND
2015-07-309588-014-1031ND
2015-08-139588-014-1012ND
2015-09-029588-014-1108ND
2015-10-089588-014-1128ND
2015-11-099588-014-0850ND
2015-12-079588-014-1040ND
2016-04-299588-014-1001ND
2016-05-059588-014-1000ND
2016-05-249588-035-0910ND
2016-05-249588-020-1005ND
2016-05-249588-031-0945ND
2016-05-249588-033-0935ND
2016-06-169588-014-1128ND
2016-07-079588-014-1200ND
2016-09-089588-014-1415ND
2016-10-139588-014-1100ND
2016-11-179588-014-1130ND
2017-05-059588-020-0925ND
2017-05-059588-031-0905ND
2017-05-059588-035-0850ND
2017-05-059588-033-0915ND
2018-05-159588-035-0915ND
2018-05-159588-031-0925ND
2018-05-159588-033-0950ND
2018-05-159588-020-0935ND
2019-05-289588-035-0900ND
2019-05-289588-031-0915ND
2019-05-289588-020-0910ND
2019-05-289588-033-0925ND
2019-11-219588-033-0935ND
2019-11-219588-020-0945ND