Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Avon 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.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND100ND
2019ND80ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND70ND
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
2018-03-05D8C0238-03VOCND
2018-03-05D8C0238-04VOCND
2018-03-05D8C0238-05VOCND
2018-03-05D8C0238-06VOCND
2018-03-05D8C0238-07VOCND
2018-03-05D8C0238-08VOCND
2018-03-05D8C0238-02VOCND
2018-04-25D8D2151-07VOCND
2018-07-26CA98747ND
2018-10-09VOC1 200508699ND
2019-01-29VOC1 200519995ND
2019-01-29VOC1 200519994ND
2019-01-29VOC1 200519996ND
2019-01-29VOC1 200519993ND
2019-01-29VOC1 200519992ND
2019-01-29VOC1 200519991ND
2019-04-16VOC1 200528742ND
2019-08-13VOC1 200544842ND
2020-08-10VOC1 200585683ND
2020-08-10VOC1 200586606ND
2021-06-01VOC1 200619066ND
2021-06-08VOC1 200620139ND
2022-01-17CK17776ND
2022-01-17CK17777ND
2022-01-17CK17778ND
2022-03-24CK96357ND
2022-03-28CK96358ND
2022-03-28CK96359ND
2022-08-18CM11956ND
2023-03-03CN54373ND