Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Coeur D Alene

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.

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND10ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND90ND
2023ND20ND

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
2018-07-16V195339ND
2019-05-29V204289ND
2019-05-29V204292ND
2019-06-03V204364ND
2020-07-20V218126ND
2021-07-20V2021070360ND
2022-03-22V202203039802ND
2022-04-26V202204048802ND
2022-04-27V2022040546ND
2022-04-27V2022040529ND
2022-05-02V202205003001ND
2022-05-02V2022050013ND
2022-05-02V2022050007ND
2022-07-12V202207029502ND
2022-10-31V202210064202ND
2023-02-13V202302018702ND
2023-05-16V202305031902ND