Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

East Hampton WPCA - Village Center

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.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-01-30115734GEND
2018-05-07117532GEND
2018-07-10118761GEND
2018-10-23120892ND
2019-01-15122347ND
2019-04-16124067ND
2019-09-17127562ND
2019-11-19128973ND
2020-02-04130248ND
2020-04-07131452ND
2020-09-01134519ND
2020-11-03135933ND
2021-01-25137562ND
2021-05-11139690ND
2021-09-21142543ND
2021-12-28144446ND
2022-03-29146620ND
2022-06-21148919ND
2022-09-20151363ND
2022-12-21154119ND
2023-03-15156497ND
2023-06-06159159ND
2023-09-28163602ND
2023-12-28166835ND