Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Gander Woods Pump District

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.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND50ND

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
2018-11-13S770725ND
2019-01-29S812529ND
2019-04-29S847907ND
2019-08-13S865159ND
2019-08-13S900434ND
2019-10-15S895862ND
2020-01-08S920014ND
2020-04-16S901920ND
2020-08-25S901704ND
2020-10-13S998171ND
2021-01-26S1035134ND
2021-04-28S1066480ND
2021-07-26S1086024ND
2021-10-22S1121011ND
2022-01-10S1136749ND
2022-04-05S1120952ND
2022-07-29S1199099ND
2022-08-19S1206469ND
2022-10-13S1230647ND
2023-01-30S1257225ND
2023-04-28S1257101ND
2023-07-31810-72350-9ND
2023-10-31810-83409-1ND
2023-10-31810-83409-2ND