Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Sublette, 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.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND10ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND60ND
20220.130 ppb41ND - 0.520 ppb
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
2018-12-181093052ND
2018-12-181093055ND
2018-12-181093056ND
2018-12-181093057ND
2019-07-081200018ND
2021-06-281864890ND
2021-06-281864889ND
2021-06-281864888ND
2021-06-281864887ND
2021-08-241930858ND
2021-08-241930857ND
2022-07-112299621ND
2022-08-022320829ND
2022-10-0323699110.520 ppb
2022-10-312388259ND
2023-01-092429096ND
2023-04-032474308ND
2023-07-172537737ND
2023-10-032586302ND