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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

City of Orange

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

 

111

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
2014ND280ND
2015ND190ND
2016ND240ND
2017ND150ND
2018ND120ND
2019ND130ND

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
2014-03-124417-034-1155ND
2014-03-134417-004-0900ND
2014-03-134417-005-0915ND
2014-03-134417-009-1230ND
2014-03-134417-015-1205ND
2014-03-134417-016-0830ND
2014-03-134417-018-1000ND
2014-03-134417-019-1130ND
2014-03-134417-020-1035ND
2014-03-134417-021-1115ND
2014-03-134417-022-1050ND
2014-03-134417-023-0930ND
2014-03-244417-003-0925ND
2014-05-134417-003-0840ND
2014-05-134417-020-1150ND
2014-05-144417-015-1255ND
2014-05-144417-034-0930ND
2014-08-274417-008-1050ND
2014-08-274417-015-1110ND
2014-08-274417-020-0950ND
2014-08-274417-034-0830ND
2014-09-244417-003-0905ND
2014-10-134417-003-0820ND
2014-10-134417-015-1230ND
2014-10-134417-034-0930ND
2014-10-144417-020-0935ND
2014-11-194417-020-1100ND
2014-11-194417-020-1110ND
2015-02-254417-003-1015ND
2015-02-254417-005-0840ND
2015-02-254417-008-1235ND
2015-02-254417-009-1210ND
2015-02-254417-016-0925ND
2015-02-254417-018-0955ND
2015-02-254417-019-1145ND
2015-02-254417-021-1110ND
2015-02-254417-022-1050ND
2015-02-254417-023-0855ND
2015-03-254417-017-1110ND
2015-04-284417-003-0835ND
2015-04-284417-008-1105ND
2015-04-284417-015-1025ND
2015-04-284417-016-0930ND
2015-06-174417-034-1100ND
2015-09-014417-003-1110ND
2015-09-284417-020-1000ND
2015-12-014417-003-0815ND
2016-01-194417-016-0910ND
2016-01-194417-021-0945ND
2016-01-264417-003-0950ND
2016-01-264417-009-0925ND
2016-01-264417-017-1145ND
2016-01-264417-018-1030ND
2016-01-264417-019-1220ND
2016-01-264417-023-1055ND
2016-01-264417-034-1010ND
2016-04-144417-003-1150ND
2016-04-144417-015-1110ND
2016-04-144417-020-1040ND
2016-04-254417-003-1320ND
2016-04-254417-008-1405ND
2016-04-254417-015-1345ND
2016-04-254417-016-1045ND
2016-04-254417-034-1000ND
2016-06-214417-008-1035ND
2016-07-134417-008-1115ND
2016-07-144417-003-1120ND
2016-07-274417-049-0850ND
2016-10-064417-049-1030ND
2016-10-184417-003-1030ND
2016-12-134417-022-1015ND
2017-01-114417-009-1130ND
2017-01-114417-017-1145ND
2017-01-114417-018-0840ND
2017-01-114417-019-1110ND
2017-01-114417-021-1050ND
2017-01-114417-022-1020ND
2017-01-114417-023-1000ND
2017-01-114417-049-0920ND
2017-01-164417-003-1120ND
2017-01-164417-008-1050ND
2017-01-164417-020-1005ND
2017-04-054417-049-0950ND
2017-04-254417-016-0840ND
2017-05-184417-016-0855ND
2017-05-184417-034-0820ND
2018-03-064417-008-1245ND
2018-03-064417-009-1220ND
2018-03-064417-017-1115ND
2018-03-064417-018-0840ND
2018-03-064417-019-1135ND
2018-03-064417-020-1015ND
2018-03-064417-021-1055ND
2018-03-064417-022-1040ND
2018-03-064417-023-0950ND
2018-05-094417-016-1005ND
2018-05-094417-034-0910ND
2018-05-094417-049-1050ND
2019-01-144417-008-1035ND
2019-01-144417-009-0950ND
2019-01-144417-019-0915ND
2019-01-144417-023-0840ND
2019-04-224417-016-0910ND
2019-04-224417-021-1010ND
2019-04-224417-034-1200ND
2019-04-224417-049-0935ND
2019-04-234417-017-1135ND
2019-05-154417-017-1030ND
2019-05-154417-022-1145ND
2019-06-184417-020-0940ND
2019-11-054417-018-1135ND