Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Woodlake, City Of

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.

 

29

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND70ND
2019ND80ND
2020ND70ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND10ND

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
2018-02-27CA5410020_009_009-201802271430ND
2018-02-27CA5410020_010_010-201802271418ND
2018-06-28CA5410020_009_009-201806281344ND
2018-06-28CA5410020_010_010-201806281355ND
2018-09-20CA5410020_010_010-201809201140ND
2018-09-20CA5410020_009_009-201809201154ND
2018-12-28CA5410020_009_009-201812281305ND
2019-03-11CA5410020_009_009-201903111238ND
2019-03-11CA5410020_010_010-201903111250ND
2019-05-07CA5410020_010_010-201905071315ND
2019-05-07CA5410020_009_009-201905071340ND
2019-08-22CA5410020_010_010-201908221315ND
2019-08-22CA5410020_009_009-201908221331ND
2019-11-26CA5410020_010_010-201911261325ND
2019-11-26CA5410020_009_009-201911261340ND
2020-09-15CA5410020_010_010-202009151144ND
2020-09-15CA5410020_008_008-202009151125ND
2020-09-15CA5410020_006_006-202009151202ND
2020-09-15CA5410020_005_005-202009151220ND
2020-09-15CA5410020_009_009-202009151138ND
2020-12-08CA5410020_004_004-202012081250ND
2020-12-08CA5410020_007_007-202012081305ND
2021-02-22CA5410020_004_004-202102221134ND
2021-02-22CA5410020_007_007-202102221118ND
2021-08-31CA5410020_005_005-202108311010ND
2021-08-31CA5410020_009_009-202108311119ND
2021-08-31CA5410020_010_010-202108311128ND
2022-09-27CA5410020_008_008-202209271225ND
2023-08-15CA5410020_006_006-202308151200ND