Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

University of Connecticut - Main Campus

NOTE: University of Connecticut - Main Campus purchases water from Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System.

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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

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: University of Connecticut - Main Campus purchases water from Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-23BZ78888VOC1ND
2018-01-31BZ82950VOC1ND
2018-07-13CA89901ND
2019-01-02VOC1 200517309ND
2019-03-15VOC1 200524883ND
2020-01-02VOC1 200561504ND
2020-06-29VOC1 200580772ND
2020-08-11VOC1 200586573ND
2020-09-21VOC1 200591014ND
2020-10-07VOC1 200593218ND
2021-03-05VOC1 200608707ND
2021-09-14300059932 300059934ND
2022-01-24CK22294ND
2022-01-25CK23175ND
2022-01-25CK23176ND
2022-02-01CK27428ND
2022-02-16CK69359ND
2022-08-26CM16199ND
2022-09-08CM25672ND
2022-09-20CM37295ND
2023-01-17CN24238ND
2023-12-13CP67269ND