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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Waipahu-Ewa-Waianae

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

 

102

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND270ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND90ND
2017ND370ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-01-13201401150663ND
2014-01-15201401170377ND
2014-01-15201401170388ND
2014-01-18201401220225ND
2014-01-18201401220226ND
2014-01-18201401220227ND
2014-01-18201401220228ND
2014-01-21201401230462ND
2014-01-21201401230463ND
2014-01-21201401230464ND
2014-01-21201401230465ND
2014-01-24201401280404ND
2014-01-24201401280405ND
2014-01-24201401280453ND
2014-01-25201401280407ND
2014-01-26201401280406ND
2014-01-26201401280432ND
2014-01-29201401310166ND
2014-01-30201402010005ND
2014-02-18201402200355ND
2014-03-05201403070205ND
2014-04-01201404030471ND
2014-04-04201404080622ND
2014-07-08201407100610ND
2014-07-23201407250222ND
2014-07-23201407250456ND
2014-10-06201410090200ND
2015-01-15201501160297ND
2015-01-15201501160298ND
2015-01-22201501230404ND
2015-01-26201501270096ND
2015-03-31201504020267ND
2015-04-13201504150586ND
2015-05-11201505130557ND
2015-07-20201507220426ND
2015-08-31201509020193ND
2015-08-31201509020194ND
2015-09-29201510010224ND
2015-10-20201510230301ND
2015-12-28201512180364ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-21ND
2016-01-25ND
2016-01-26ND
2016-04-12ND
2016-07-06ND
2016-10-12ND
2016-11-14ND
2016-12-14ND
2017-01-09ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-11ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-01-25ND
2017-01-26ND
2017-02-02ND
2017-02-13ND
2017-02-13ND
2017-02-16ND
2017-02-22ND
2017-02-22ND
2017-02-23ND
2017-02-27ND
2017-03-13ND
2017-04-03ND
2017-04-25ND
2017-06-26ND
2017-07-20ND
2017-10-09ND
2017-10-11ND
2017-10-13ND
2017-10-16ND
2017-10-16ND
2017-10-16ND
2017-10-17ND
2017-10-18ND
2017-10-18ND
2017-10-23ND
2017-10-24ND
2017-10-24ND
2017-10-24ND
2017-10-25ND
2017-10-25ND
2018-01-18201801190620ND
2018-01-22201801230704ND
2018-01-24201712280233ND
2018-01-25201712280229ND
2018-04-16201804170923ND
2018-08-13201808140273ND
2018-08-21201808130257ND
2018-10-17201810180494ND
2019-01-24201901250061ND
2019-01-24201901250057ND
2019-01-28201901290128ND
2019-01-28201901290129ND
2019-04-04201904050237ND
2019-07-09201907100450ND
2019-07-30201908010178ND
2019-10-10201909170640ND