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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

City of Buena Park

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

 

70

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
2014ND110ND
2015ND140ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND130ND
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
2014-01-224417-012-1120ND
2014-04-224417-027-1000ND
2014-04-224417-017-0905ND
2014-04-224417-016-1020ND
2014-04-224417-012-1100ND
2014-04-244417-004-1100ND
2014-04-244417-007-1005ND
2014-04-244417-008-0930ND
2014-04-244417-009-1030ND
2014-07-304417-027-0945ND
2014-10-274417-027-1030ND
2015-01-214417-012-1025ND
2015-01-214417-027-0950ND
2015-04-144417-016-0940ND
2015-04-144417-027-0910ND
2015-04-154417-008-0940ND
2015-04-154417-017-0920ND
2015-04-154417-004-1025ND
2015-04-164417-012-1030ND
2015-04-164417-009-0945ND
2015-07-234417-027-0925ND
2015-08-254417-007-0835ND
2015-09-254417-007-0840ND
2015-09-254417-007-0855ND
2015-10-214417-027-1130ND
2016-01-274417-027-1035ND
2016-04-264417-027-1020ND
2016-04-264417-017-0915ND
2016-04-264417-016-1045ND
2016-04-264417-004-1150ND
2016-04-264417-007-1115ND
2016-04-264417-008-0950ND
2016-04-264417-009-1220ND
2016-04-264417-012-0825ND
2016-05-184417-016-1010ND
2016-07-194417-027-0855ND
2016-10-104417-027-0840ND
2017-01-254417-027-0900ND
2017-04-034417-012-0910ND
2017-04-034417-027-0830ND
2017-04-064417-017-0815ND
2017-04-064417-016-0930ND
2017-04-064417-007-1000ND
2017-04-064417-008-0850ND
2017-04-064417-009-1030ND
2017-07-134417-027-0935ND
2017-10-114417-027-0920ND
2017-10-184417-004-0935ND
2017-10-184417-004-0950ND
2018-01-224417-027-0840ND
2018-01-254417-016-0900ND
2018-03-194417-027-0840ND
2018-04-114417-007-1120ND
2018-04-114417-009-1140ND
2018-04-114417-004-1210ND
2018-04-164417-027-0955ND
2018-04-194417-017-1105ND
2018-07-304417-008-1105ND
2018-07-304417-027-1125ND
2018-07-304417-016-1150ND
2018-10-184417-027-0915ND
2018-12-184417-027-1100ND
2019-01-034417-027-0840ND
2019-01-214417-017-0840ND
2019-01-214417-016-0920ND
2019-01-234417-007-0930ND
2019-01-234417-004-1005ND
2019-01-234417-008-0900ND
2019-06-204417-009-1300ND
2019-11-044417-027-0915ND