Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Styrene

California Water Service - South San Francisco

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

 

192

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
2014ND910ND
2015ND660ND
2016ND290ND
2017ND60ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A

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
2014-01-095701-013-0940ND
2014-01-145701-009-1132ND
2014-01-145701-010-1138ND
2014-01-145701-011-1130ND
2014-01-285701-013-0922ND
2014-02-045701-013-1006ND
2014-02-055701-009-1031ND
2014-02-055701-010-1013ND
2014-02-055701-011-1030ND
2014-02-115701-013-1327ND
2014-02-195701-013-1335ND
2014-02-255701-003-1325ND
2014-02-255701-013-1048ND
2014-03-045701-013-1004ND
2014-03-055701-009-1403ND
2014-03-055701-010-1410ND
2014-03-055701-011-1400ND
2014-03-115701-013-1340ND
2014-03-165701-013-0937ND
2014-03-185701-006-1048ND
2014-03-185701-007-1100ND
2014-03-185701-008-1037ND
2014-03-185701-014-1021ND
2014-03-275701-013-1038ND
2014-04-035701-013-1130ND
2014-04-085701-013-1100ND
2014-04-155701-009-1329ND
2014-04-155701-010-1334ND
2014-04-155701-011-1325ND
2014-04-155701-013-1117ND
2014-04-295701-013-0910ND
2014-05-055701-013-1134ND
2014-05-145701-013-0842ND
2014-05-205701-009-1121ND
2014-05-205701-010-1138ND
2014-05-205701-011-1119ND
2014-05-205701-013-1100ND
2014-05-275701-013-1050ND
2014-06-045701-009-0830ND
2014-06-045701-010-0840ND
2014-06-045701-011-0828ND
2014-06-045701-013-1130ND
2014-06-095701-013-1117ND
2014-06-175701-013-1125ND
2014-07-095701-013-1011ND
2014-07-155701-013-1136ND
2014-07-165701-009-1127ND
2014-07-165701-010-1138ND
2014-07-165701-011-1124ND
2014-07-225701-013-1140ND
2014-07-295701-013-1137ND
2014-08-055701-013-1530ND
2014-08-135810-009-0840ND
2014-08-135810-010-0850ND
2014-08-135810-011-0837ND
2014-08-135810-013-0815ND
2014-08-185701-013-1103ND
2014-08-265701-013-1126ND
2014-09-035701-013-1027ND
2014-09-085701-013-1025ND
2014-09-165701-009-0912ND
2014-09-165701-010-0940ND
2014-09-165701-011-0910ND
2014-09-165701-013-0855ND
2014-09-235701-013-1330ND
2014-09-255701-006-1321ND
2014-09-255701-007-1328ND
2014-09-255701-008-1313ND
2014-09-255701-014-1355ND
2014-10-025701-009-1113ND
2014-10-025701-010-1118ND
2014-10-025701-011-1112ND
2014-11-045701-013-1111ND
2014-11-125701-009-1320ND
2014-11-125701-010-1337ND
2014-11-125701-011-1318ND
2014-11-125701-013-1107ND
2014-11-185701-013-1122ND
2014-11-195701-003-1111ND
2014-11-245701-013-1320ND
2014-12-025701-013-0911ND
2014-12-045701-009-1343ND
2014-12-045701-010-1356ND
2014-12-045701-011-1342ND
2014-12-095701-013-1022ND
2014-12-165701-013-1416ND
2014-12-175701-006-1025ND
2014-12-175701-007-1032ND
2014-12-175701-008-1004ND
2014-12-219590-013-1430ND
2014-12-309590-013-1035ND
2015-01-055701-013-1330ND
2015-01-075701-009-1135ND
2015-01-075701-010-1146ND
2015-01-075701-011-1132ND
2015-01-135701-013-1101ND
2015-01-205701-013-1100ND
2015-01-265701-013-1029ND
2015-02-025701-013-1034ND
2015-02-115701-009-0902ND
2015-02-115701-010-0911ND
2015-02-115701-011-0900ND
2015-02-115701-013-0920ND
2015-02-115701-014-1033ND
2015-02-175701-013-0952ND
2015-02-185701-003-1040ND
2015-02-235701-013-1101ND
2015-03-035701-013-1342ND
2015-03-045701-009-0938ND
2015-03-045701-010-0948ND
2015-03-045701-011-0939ND
2015-03-105701-013-1355ND
2015-03-165701-013-1121ND
2015-03-195701-006-1041ND
2015-03-195701-007-1053ND
2015-03-195701-008-1021ND
2015-03-245701-013-1117ND
2015-03-315701-013-1310ND
2015-04-075701-009-1405ND
2015-04-075701-010-1430ND
2015-04-075701-011-1400ND
2015-04-075701-013-1340ND
2015-04-145701-013-1435ND
2015-04-225701-013-1334ND
2015-04-285701-013-0950ND
2015-05-069590-009-1425ND
2015-05-069590-010-1502ND
2015-05-069590-011-1421ND
2015-05-069590-013-1400ND
2015-05-139590-013-1321ND
2015-05-195701-013-1039ND
2015-05-215701-003-1336ND
2015-05-265701-013-1136ND
2015-05-275701-014-1332ND
2015-06-015701-013-1130ND
2015-06-025701-009-1006ND
2015-06-025701-010-1017ND
2015-06-025701-011-1005ND
2015-06-095701-013-1000ND
2015-06-155701-013-1352ND
2015-06-185701-006-1142ND
2015-06-185701-007-1428ND
2015-06-185701-008-1455ND
2015-06-235701-013-1005ND
2015-06-305701-013-0915ND
2015-07-065701-013-0909ND
2015-07-075701-009-1126ND
2015-07-075701-010-1317ND
2015-07-075701-011-1124ND
2015-08-265701-003-1410ND
2015-08-265701-006-1420ND
2015-11-165701-003-1320ND
2015-11-165701-006-1327ND
2015-11-165701-009-1336ND
2015-11-165701-010-1141ND
2015-11-165701-011-1339ND
2015-11-185810-014-1111ND
2016-02-165701-013-0957ND
2016-02-175701-003-1001ND
2016-02-175701-006-1008ND
2016-02-175701-009-0934ND
2016-02-175701-010-0947ND
2016-02-175701-011-0931ND
2016-03-025701-009-1133ND
2016-03-025701-010-1150ND
2016-03-025701-011-1134ND
2016-03-169590-014-1407ND
2016-04-115701-009-0913ND
2016-04-115701-010-0926ND
2016-04-115701-011-0905ND
2016-05-115701-009-0846ND
2016-05-115701-010-0938ND
2016-05-115701-011-0844ND
2016-05-175701-003-1037ND
2016-05-175701-006-1044ND
2016-05-175701-013-1053ND
2016-06-075701-009-0955ND
2016-06-075701-010-1011ND
2016-06-075701-011-0955ND
2016-09-265701-013-1024ND
2016-09-275701-003-0950ND
2016-09-275701-006-1000ND
2016-11-285701-003-1156ND
2016-11-285701-006-1134ND
2016-11-295701-013-1010ND
2016-12-065701-014-1008ND
2017-06-025701-902-1321ND
2017-06-025701-904-1314ND
2017-11-289590-006-1130ND
2017-11-289590-008-1500ND
2017-11-289590-013-1230ND
2017-11-289590-014-1056ND