Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

California Water Service Company Oak Hills

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.

 

27

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND50ND
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
2018-03-14CA2710019_008_008-201803141248ND
2018-06-20CA2710019_008_008-201806200940ND
2018-09-25CA2710019_003_003-201809251256ND
2018-09-25CA2710019_008_008-201809251226ND
2018-12-12CA2710019_008_008-201812121546ND
2019-06-19CA2710019_008_008-201906191332ND
2019-09-17CA2710019_008_008-201909171201ND
2019-12-19CA2710019_008_008-201912191054ND
2020-03-17CA2710019_008_008-202003171219ND
2020-05-19CA2710019_008_008-202005190920ND
2020-09-24CA2710019_008_008-202009241029ND
2020-12-15CA2710019_008_008-202012151046ND
2021-03-09CA2710019_008_008-202103091038ND
2021-06-29CA2710019_001_001-202106291348ND
2021-06-29CA2710019_008_008-202106291156ND
2021-09-14CA2710019_003_003-202109140935ND
2021-09-14CA2710019_008_008-202109140956ND
2021-12-15CA2710019_008_008-202112150944ND
2022-02-22CA2710019_008_008-202202220909ND
2022-03-10CA2710019_008_008-202203101116ND
2022-06-22CA2710019_008_008-202206221330ND
2022-09-01CA2710019_008_008-202209011120ND
2022-12-08CA2710019_008_008-202212081046ND
2023-03-28CA2710019_008_008-202303281435ND
2023-06-26CA2710019_008_008-202306261250ND
2023-09-21CA2710019_008_008-202309210921ND
2023-12-28CA2710019_008_008-202312280955ND