Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Andrews Water Department

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.

 

42

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND50ND
2021ND120ND
2022ND160ND
2023ND90ND

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
2020-06-22DK35115ND
2020-06-2750261040001ND
2020-07-2320072479-001ND
2020-09-1020091027-002ND
2020-11-2320112107-002AREV2ND
2021-02-1021021011-001AND
2021-05-1021050821-001AND
2021-07-2021071758-001AND
2021-08-1821081685-001AND
2021-08-2021082037-002AND
2021-08-2021082037-003AND
2021-08-2021082037-004AND
2021-08-2021082037-001AND
2021-11-2221112028-002AND
2021-11-2221112028-001AND
2021-12-0221120159-001AND
2021-12-0221120159-002AND
2022-01-2622011891-001AND
2022-01-2622011891-002AND
2022-02-1522020997-004AND
2022-02-1522020997-003AND
2022-05-23112708-2ND
2022-05-23112708-1ND
2022-08-16122459-1ND
2022-08-16122459-2ND
2022-11-17132023-1ND
2022-11-29132892-1ND
2022-11-29132892-3ND
2022-11-29132892-2ND
2022-12-02133268-2ND
2022-12-02133268-1ND
2022-12-08133928-2ND
2022-12-08133928-1ND
2023-01-24138157-1ND
2023-01-24138157-2ND
2023-05-08148546-1ND
2023-05-08148546-2ND
2023-08-23160623-2ND
2023-08-23160623-4ND
2023-08-23160623-5ND
2023-11-21169747-1ND
2023-11-21169747-2ND