Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Claflin, City of

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.

 

31

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-02-26906998ND
2018-02-26906999ND
2018-10-211064829ND
2018-10-211064830ND
2018-10-211064831ND
2019-02-251126128ND
2019-02-251126129ND
2019-02-251126130ND
2019-04-151138049ND
2019-07-161205463ND
2019-10-151259661ND
2020-01-271314670ND
2020-02-251330198ND
2020-02-251330199ND
2020-04-141357229ND
2020-07-141441598ND
2021-02-231778336ND
2021-02-231778337ND
2021-03-161796813ND
2021-08-171920544ND
2021-09-211964204ND
2021-11-162027744ND
2022-02-152194828ND
2022-05-242264135ND
2022-08-302346000ND
2022-09-202362177ND
2022-11-292404795ND
2023-02-272455978ND
2023-05-242506133ND
2023-08-302566144ND
2023-11-282615995ND