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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Regional Water Authority

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

64

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND100ND
2015ND110ND
2016ND100ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND100ND
2019ND110ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-03-04VOC1 200391964ND
2014-03-04VOC1 200391963ND
2014-03-04VOC1 200392007ND
2014-03-04VOC1 200392005ND
2014-03-04VOC1 200391980ND
2014-03-04VOC1 200391978ND
2014-03-04VOC1 200391977ND
2014-03-04VOC1 200391965ND
2014-03-04VOC1 200391979ND
2014-03-25VOC1 200393100ND
2015-03-03VOC1 200412899ND
2015-03-03VOC1 200412902ND
2015-03-03VOC1 200412900ND
2015-03-03VOC1 200412879ND
2015-03-03VOC1 200412881ND
2015-03-03VOC1 200412907ND
2015-03-03VOC1 200412923ND
2015-03-04VOC1 200413022ND
2015-03-10VOC1 200413328ND
2015-03-18VOC1 200413713ND
2015-12-04VOC1 200429711ND
2016-02-29VOC1 200434386ND
2016-02-29VOC1 200434387ND
2016-02-29VOC1 200434371ND
2016-02-29VOC1 200434372ND
2016-03-01VOC1 200434428ND
2016-03-01VOC1 200434431ND
2016-03-01VOC1 200434429ND
2016-03-01VOC1 200434430ND
2016-03-01VOC1 200434474ND
2016-03-03VOC1 200434800ND
2017-02-27VOC1 200461301ND
2017-02-27VOC1 200461317ND
2017-02-27VOC1 200461316ND
2017-02-28VOC1 200461369ND
2017-02-28VOC1 200461372ND
2017-02-28VOC1 200461370ND
2017-02-28VOC1 200461371ND
2017-02-28VOC1 200461405ND
2017-02-28VOC1 200461407ND
2017-03-02VOC1 200461633ND
2017-06-19VOC1 200469687ND
2017-06-19VOC1 200469688ND
2018-03-05VOC1 200489156ND
2018-03-05VOC1 200489128ND
2018-03-05VOC1 200489129ND
2018-03-05VOC1 200489150ND
2018-03-06VOC1 200489298ND
2018-03-06VOC1 200489296ND
2018-03-06VOC1 200489295ND
2018-08-17VOC1 200502735ND
2018-11-29VOC1 200514106ND
2018-11-29VOC1 200514121ND
2019-03-04VOC1 200523150ND
2019-03-04VOC1 200523151ND
2019-03-04VOC1 200523175ND
2019-03-04VOC1 200523176ND
2019-03-05VOC1 200523251ND
2019-03-05VOC1 200523254ND
2019-03-05VOC1 200523252ND
2019-03-05VOC1 200523253ND
2019-03-05VOC1 200523284ND
2019-03-05VOC1 200523286ND
2019-05-08VOC1 200531298ND