Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Triple R Mutual Water Company

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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND100ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND60ND
2023N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2019-12-11CA5400670_004_004-201912110955ND
2019-12-11CA5400670_010_010-201912111225ND
2019-12-11CA5400670_011_011-201912111210ND
2019-12-11CA5400670_009_009-201912111115ND
2019-12-11CA5400670_007_007-201912111210ND
2019-12-11CA5400670_006_006-201912111100ND
2019-12-11CA5400670_005_005-201912111140ND
2019-12-11CA5400670_002_002-201912111155ND
2019-12-11CA5400670_008_008-201912111255ND
2019-12-11CA5400670_001_001-201912111035ND
2020-06-29CA5400670_011_011-202006291640ND
2020-09-28CA5400670_011_011-202009281620ND
2020-12-20CA5400670_011_011-202012201140ND
2021-03-13CA5400670_011_011-202103131200ND
2022-03-27CA5400670_011_011-202203271455ND
2022-06-24CA5400670_009_009-202206241305ND
2022-12-28CA5400670_008_008-202212281100ND
2022-12-28CA5400670_001_001-202212281000ND
2022-12-28CA5400670_007_007-202212281115ND
2022-12-28CA5400670_006_006-202212281030ND