Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Rexburg

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.

 

33

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND10ND
2020ND90ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND130ND

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
2018-06-29VB18070188001ND
2018-08-01V1813281ND
2019-01-08V1851921ND
2020-06-29VB20070003001ND
2020-06-29VB20062582001ND
2020-06-29VB20062582002ND
2020-06-29VB20062582003ND
2020-06-29VB20062582004ND
2020-06-29VB20062582005ND
2020-06-29VB20062582006ND
2020-11-30VB20120066001ND
2020-11-30VB20120071001ND
2021-01-25VB21011641001ND
2021-01-25VB21011645001ND
2021-04-26VB21041974001ND
2021-04-26VB21041931001ND
2021-07-28VB21072453001ND
2021-07-28VB21072453002ND
2022-06-27VB22062447005ND
2022-06-27VB22062447006ND
2023-06-14VMDF068709ND
2023-06-14VMDF068708ND
2023-06-14VMDF068706ND
2023-06-14VMDF068705ND
2023-06-14VMDF068702ND
2023-09-11VMDI035501ND
2023-09-11VMDI035901ND
2023-09-11VMDI034801ND
2023-09-11VMDI035401ND
2023-10-30VMDJ094501ND
2023-10-30VMDJ094504ND
2023-10-30VMDJ094502ND
2023-10-30VMDJ094505ND