Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Lyme Academy Apartments LLC

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.

 

46

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

11

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.0825 ppb81ND - 0.660 ppb
2019ND80ND
20201.13 ppb84ND - 6.00 ppb
20210.206 ppb82ND - 0.930 ppb
20220.0900 ppb61ND - 0.540 ppb
20230.423 ppb83ND - 1.60 ppb

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
2018-01-11BZ71422VOC1ND
2018-01-11BZ71421VOC10.660 ppb
2018-04-05CA14773VOC1ND
2018-04-05CA14772VOC1ND
2018-07-16CA90748ND
2018-07-16CA90749ND
2018-10-11CB69892ND
2018-10-11CB69893ND
2019-02-05CC40790ND
2019-02-05CC40791ND
2019-04-08CC90374ND
2019-04-08CC90375ND
2019-07-22CD62263ND
2019-07-22CD62264ND
2019-10-17CE42740ND
2019-10-17CE42741ND
2020-01-06CE974556.00 ppb
2020-01-06CE97456ND
2020-05-14CF959181.30 ppb
2020-05-14CF95919ND
2020-07-28CG429861.10 ppb
2020-07-28CG42987ND
2020-11-16CH15471ND
2020-11-16CH154700.630 ppb
2021-01-12CH44932ND
2021-01-12CH44933ND
2021-05-24CI38043ND
2021-05-24CI38044ND
2021-07-27CI834410.720 ppb
2021-07-27CI83442ND
2021-10-27CJ667310.930 ppb
2021-10-27CJ66732ND
2022-06-28CL66217ND
2022-06-28CL66218ND
2022-09-26CM41859ND
2022-09-26CM41860ND
2022-12-08CN010800.540 ppb
2022-12-08CN01081ND
2023-02-27CN50099ND
2023-02-27CN50100ND
2023-04-24CN901251.60 ppb
2023-04-24CN90126ND
2023-07-26CO600060.780 ppb
2023-07-26CO60007ND
2023-10-25CP340561.000 ppb
2023-10-25CP34057ND