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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

City of Huntington Beach

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

 

106

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
2014ND220ND
2015ND180ND
2016ND190ND
2017ND190ND
2018ND150ND
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
2014-02-124417-008-1010ND
2014-02-124417-010-0925ND
2014-02-124417-011-1020ND
2014-02-124417-012-0750ND
2014-02-124417-013-0850ND
2014-02-124417-025-1000ND
2014-03-104417-016-1000ND
2014-05-064417-008-1105ND
2014-05-064417-009-0850ND
2014-05-064417-011-1115ND
2014-05-064417-013-1000ND
2014-05-064417-016-0920ND
2014-05-064417-025-1050ND
2014-06-244417-025-0855ND
2014-06-244417-025-0910ND
2014-08-064417-008-1010ND
2014-08-064417-011-0950ND
2014-08-064417-013-0910ND
2014-08-064417-016-0850ND
2014-08-064417-025-1025ND
2014-11-124417-011-1025ND
2014-11-124417-025-1105ND
2015-02-184417-010-0950ND
2015-02-184417-011-1025ND
2015-02-184417-012-0840ND
2015-03-304417-008-0840ND
2015-03-304417-025-0855ND
2015-05-054417-008-1045ND
2015-05-054417-009-0840ND
2015-05-054417-011-1030ND
2015-06-084417-008-0915ND
2015-06-084417-008-0930ND
2015-07-304417-008-0920ND
2015-07-304417-011-0940ND
2015-07-304417-013-1110ND
2015-07-304417-016-1010ND
2015-07-304417-025-0905ND
2015-11-034417-008-0940ND
2015-11-034417-025-1000ND
2015-11-054417-011-0810ND
2016-02-024417-008-1030ND
2016-02-024417-010-1115ND
2016-02-024417-011-1010ND
2016-02-024417-012-0805ND
2016-02-024417-013-0935ND
2016-02-024417-025-1050ND
2016-05-034417-008-1020ND
2016-05-034417-016-0850ND
2016-05-034417-025-1005ND
2016-05-254417-011-1040ND
2016-07-284417-008-1020ND
2016-07-284417-025-1045ND
2016-08-174417-011-0830ND
2016-09-144417-009-1100ND
2016-09-224417-009-0840ND
2016-10-174417-008-0850ND
2016-10-174417-009-0810ND
2016-11-084417-011-0935ND
2016-11-084417-025-1015ND
2017-02-164417-008-1030ND
2017-02-164417-010-0950ND
2017-02-164417-011-1020ND
2017-02-164417-012-0925ND
2017-02-164417-013-1105ND
2017-02-164417-025-1045ND
2017-04-194417-012-0850ND
2017-05-174417-009-0830ND
2017-05-174417-010-0945ND
2017-05-174417-011-1015ND
2017-05-174417-016-0850ND
2017-05-174417-025-0805ND
2017-08-024417-011-0855ND
2017-08-174417-025-0935ND
2017-09-194417-008-0900ND
2017-10-254417-008-0820ND
2017-10-254417-008-0830ND
2017-10-254417-008-0840ND
2017-10-254417-025-0900ND
2018-01-244417-013-1100ND
2018-02-144417-025-0840ND
2018-03-074417-008-0800ND
2018-05-014417-008-1115ND
2018-05-014417-009-1000ND
2018-05-014417-010-1020ND
2018-05-014417-016-0945ND
2018-05-014417-025-1100ND
2018-06-074417-011-0820ND
2018-07-314417-025-0845ND
2018-08-074417-011-0835ND
2018-09-194417-008-0825ND
2018-10-234417-008-1000ND
2018-10-234417-011-0945ND
2018-10-234417-025-1015ND
2019-01-164417-008-0920ND
2019-01-164417-010-1025ND
2019-01-164417-011-0835ND
2019-01-164417-012-1000ND
2019-01-164417-013-0730ND
2019-01-164417-016-0805ND
2019-01-164417-025-0900ND
2019-04-094417-009-0900ND
2019-04-094417-025-1030ND
2019-04-114417-008-0935ND
2019-07-014417-011-1015ND
2019-07-014417-025-0945ND
2019-10-294417-025-0905ND