Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Pocatello

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.

 

64

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND90ND
2019ND160ND
2020ND80ND
2021ND80ND
2022ND150ND
2023ND80ND

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
2018-05-02VI80502301ND
2018-09-26VI80927602ND
2018-09-26VI80927601ND
2018-09-26VI80927608ND
2018-09-26VI80927607ND
2018-09-26VI80927606ND
2018-09-26VI80927605ND
2018-09-26VI80927604ND
2018-09-26VI80927603ND
2019-10-08VI91008806ND
2019-10-08VI91009208ND
2019-10-08VI91009207ND
2019-10-08VI91009206ND
2019-10-08VI91009205ND
2019-10-08VI91009204ND
2019-10-08VI91009203ND
2019-10-08VI91009202ND
2019-10-08VI91009201ND
2019-10-08VI91008808ND
2019-10-08VI91008807ND
2019-10-08VI91008805ND
2019-10-08VI91008804ND
2019-10-08VI91008803ND
2019-10-08VI91008802ND
2019-10-08VI91008801ND
2020-05-11VI00507315ND
2020-05-11VI00507314ND
2020-05-11VI00507313ND
2020-05-11VI00507309ND
2020-05-11VI00507306ND
2020-05-11VI00507304ND
2020-05-11VI00507303ND
2020-05-11VI00507308ND
2021-08-10VI10813507ND
2021-08-10VI10813504ND
2021-08-10VI10813505ND
2021-08-10VI10813501ND
2021-08-10VI10813502ND
2021-08-10VI10813503ND
2021-08-10VI10813506ND
2021-08-10VI10813508ND
2022-10-12VI21012906ND
2022-10-12VI21013001ND
2022-10-12VI21012802ND
2022-10-12VI21012801ND
2022-10-12VI21012912ND
2022-10-12VI21012911ND
2022-10-12VI21012910ND
2022-10-12VI21012909ND
2022-10-12VI21012908ND
2022-10-12VI21012907ND
2022-10-12VI21012905ND
2022-10-12VI21012904ND
2022-10-12VI21012903ND
2022-10-12VI21012902ND
2022-10-12VI21012901ND
2023-10-11VI31012801ND
2023-10-11VI31012802ND
2023-10-11VI31012803ND
2023-10-11VI31012805ND
2023-10-11VI31012806ND
2023-10-11VI31012807ND
2023-10-11VI31012808ND
2023-10-11VI31012809ND