Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

CTWC - Unionville System

NOTE: CTWC - Unionville System purchases water from Metropolitan District Commission which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by Metropolitan District Commission.

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.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND40ND
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

NOTE: CTWC - Unionville System purchases water from Metropolitan District Commission which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by Metropolitan District Commission.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-07-16AE00927GEND
2018-07-16AE00912GEND
2018-07-16AE00911GEND
2019-06-05AE29314GEND
2019-06-05AE29313GEND
2019-06-05AE29315GEND
2020-06-02AE59301GEND
2020-06-02AE59305GEND
2020-06-02AE59302GEND
2021-11-23V300107450 300107457ND
2021-11-23V300107451 300107463ND
2021-11-29V300109635 300109637ND
2022-12-15V300287053 300287060ND
2022-12-15V300287072 300287079ND
2022-12-15V300287100 300287107ND
2023-12-06V300456527 300456529ND
2023-12-06V300456525 300456531ND
2023-12-06V300456533 300456535ND