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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

City of Upland

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

 

83

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
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND100ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND600ND

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
2014-09-259590-048-0920ND
2014-09-259590-045-1235ND
2014-09-259590-040-0930ND
2014-09-259590-038-0850ND
2014-09-259590-036-0750ND
2014-09-259590-026-1000ND
2014-09-259590-024-1240ND
2014-09-259590-023-1027ND
2014-09-259590-021-1000ND
2014-10-079590-047-0920ND
2014-10-079590-004-0812ND
2017-02-029590-001-1110ND
2017-08-219590-036-0815ND
2017-08-239590-021-0831ND
2017-08-239590-045-0815ND
2017-08-239590-023-1110ND
2017-08-239590-024-0915ND
2017-08-239590-026-1215ND
2017-08-239590-038-1055ND
2017-08-239590-040-0945ND
2017-08-299590-038-1002ND
2018-04-109590-040-1300ND
2018-10-029590-040-1212ND
2019-02-269590-040-1402ND
2019-03-059590-040-1428ND
2019-03-129590-040-1415ND
2019-03-199590-040-1445ND
2019-03-269590-040-1341ND
2019-04-029590-040-1427ND
2019-04-099590-040-1306ND
2019-04-169590-040-1420ND
2019-04-239590-040-1357ND
2019-04-249590-040-1110ND
2019-04-309590-040-1418ND
2019-05-079590-040-1248ND
2019-05-149590-040-1403ND
2019-05-219590-040-1341ND
2019-05-299590-040-0729ND
2019-06-049590-040-1305ND
2019-06-119590-040-1340ND
2019-06-189590-040-1346ND
2019-06-259590-040-1417ND
2019-07-029590-040-1215ND
2019-07-099590-040-1250ND
2019-07-239590-040-1357ND
2019-07-309590-040-1335ND
2019-08-069590-040-1435ND
2019-08-139590-040-1305ND
2019-08-209590-040-1407ND
2019-08-279590-040-1351ND
2019-09-039590-040-1420ND
2019-09-109590-040-1328ND
2019-09-179590-040-1417ND
2019-09-249590-040-1349ND
2019-09-249590-051-1356ND
2019-10-019590-040-1350ND
2019-10-019590-051-1355ND
2019-10-089590-040-1437ND
2019-10-089590-051-1439ND
2019-10-159590-051-0151ND
2019-10-159590-040-0144ND
2019-10-229590-051-0238ND
2019-10-229590-040-0234ND
2019-10-299590-040-1349ND
2019-10-299590-051-1355ND
2019-11-059590-051-1328ND
2019-11-059590-040-1327ND
2019-11-129590-051-1400ND
2019-11-129590-040-1352ND
2019-11-199590-051-1049ND
2019-11-199590-040-1039ND
2019-11-269590-051-1415ND
2019-11-269590-040-1405ND
2019-12-049590-051-1308ND
2019-12-049590-040-1303ND
2019-12-109590-051-1300ND
2019-12-109590-040-1312ND
2019-12-179590-051-1254ND
2019-12-179590-040-1248ND
2019-12-239590-051-1220ND
2019-12-239590-040-1210ND
2019-12-309590-051-1357ND
2019-12-309590-040-1350ND