Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Pratt, 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.

 

21

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
2020ND100ND
2021ND10ND
2022N/A00N/A
2023ND100ND

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
2020-08-041472561ND
2020-08-041472564ND
2020-08-041472562ND
2020-08-041472565ND
2020-08-041472566ND
2020-08-041472567ND
2020-08-041472569ND
2020-08-041472570ND
2020-08-041472571ND
2020-08-041472572ND
2021-04-131817297ND
2023-08-092555381ND
2023-08-092555382ND
2023-08-092555383ND
2023-08-092555384ND
2023-08-092555385ND
2023-08-092555386ND
2023-08-092555387ND
2023-08-092555388ND
2023-09-132575317ND
2023-10-102589869ND