Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Meriden Water Division

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.

 

70

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND150ND
2019ND140ND
2020ND110ND
2021ND120ND
2022ND100ND
2023ND80ND

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
2018-01-18BZ74951VOC1ND
2018-05-17CA49083VOC1ND
2018-07-19CA94411ND
2018-07-19CA94412ND
2018-07-19CA94413ND
2018-07-19CA94410ND
2018-07-26CA98719ND
2018-08-09CB08263ND
2018-08-23CB17441ND
2018-09-20CB35508ND
2018-09-20CB35511ND
2018-09-27CB59877ND
2018-10-11CB69872ND
2018-11-14CB97371ND
2018-12-07CC11054ND
2019-02-06CC41805ND
2019-04-25CD01551ND
2019-05-08CD09272ND
2019-06-19CD38010ND
2019-06-19CD38012ND
2019-06-19CD38011ND
2019-06-26CD42474ND
2019-06-26CD42475ND
2019-06-26CD42476ND
2019-07-10CD53533ND
2019-08-07CD80098ND
2019-09-04CD97370ND
2019-10-02CE25548ND
2019-11-06CE55216ND
2020-06-10CG10479ND
2020-06-17CG16086ND
2020-06-17CG16087ND
2020-06-17CG16088ND
2020-07-08CG29532ND
2020-07-29CG43212ND
2020-07-29CG43211ND
2020-08-12CG52353ND
2020-09-30CG88204ND
2020-10-07CG92447ND
2020-11-12CH13760ND
2021-04-26CI15487ND
2021-05-05CI23774ND
2021-06-09CI51091ND
2021-06-09CI51092ND
2021-06-09CI51093ND
2021-06-09CI51094ND
2021-06-09CI51095ND
2021-06-09CI51096ND
2021-06-14CI54537ND
2021-07-28CI83796ND
2021-08-09CI93330ND
2021-08-25CJ13500ND
2022-05-25CL38209ND
2022-06-01CL45770ND
2022-06-01CL45771ND
2022-06-01CL45772ND
2022-06-01CL45773ND
2022-06-01CL45769ND
2022-06-22CL61866ND
2022-06-27CL64555ND
2022-07-27CL90095ND
2022-11-09CM80564ND
2023-01-30CN32219ND
2023-03-08CN55431ND
2023-03-13CN58724ND
2023-03-15CN60227ND
2023-03-15CN60228ND
2023-03-22CN65582ND
2023-07-17CO51914ND
2023-07-28CO61474ND