Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Beauregard Water Works District #3

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.

 

44

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND220ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND110ND
2022N/A00N/A
2023ND110ND

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
2018-02-2735377534001ND
2018-02-2735377534001ND
2018-03-1935381349005ND
2018-03-1935381349004ND
2018-03-1935381349001ND
2018-03-1935381349002ND
2018-03-1935381349003ND
2018-03-1935381349004ND
2018-03-1935381349005ND
2018-03-1935381349003ND
2018-03-1935381349002ND
2018-03-1935381349001ND
2018-04-1635387317002ND
2018-04-1635387317001ND
2018-04-1635387317005ND
2018-04-1635387317003ND
2018-04-1635387317002ND
2018-04-1635387317001ND
2018-04-1635387317005ND
2018-04-1635387317004ND
2018-04-1635387317003ND
2018-04-1635387317004ND
2021-02-0235609370003ND
2021-02-0235609370002ND
2021-02-0235609370001ND
2021-02-0235609370004ND
2021-03-1635619951002ND
2021-03-1635619951003ND
2021-03-1635619951004ND
2021-03-1635619951005ND
2021-03-1635619951001ND
2021-04-2735629422001ND
2021-04-2735629422002ND
2023-07-2435815844001ND
2023-07-2435815844002ND
2023-07-2435815844003ND
2023-07-2435815844004ND
2023-07-2435815844005ND
2023-08-0735819580001ND
2023-08-0735819580002ND
2023-08-0735819580003ND
2023-08-0735819580004ND
2023-08-0735819580005ND
2023-08-0735819580006ND