Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Plaquemine Water System

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.

 

27

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
2019ND100ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
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
2019-05-2035469857001ND
2019-05-2035469857002ND
2019-05-2035469857001ND
2019-05-2035469857002ND
2019-05-2135470500001ND
2019-05-2135470500002ND
2019-05-2135470500001ND
2019-05-2135470500002ND
2019-06-1235475393005ND
2019-06-1235475393005ND
2020-06-0135554093004ND
2020-06-0135554093003ND
2020-06-0135554093002ND
2020-06-0135554093001ND
2021-05-2535636158001ND
2021-05-2535636158002ND
2021-05-2535636158003ND
2021-05-2535636158004ND
2022-05-1635718662001ND
2022-05-1635718662002ND
2022-05-1635718662003ND
2022-05-1635718662004ND
2022-05-1635718662005ND
2023-10-3035838246001ND
2023-10-3035838246002ND
2023-10-3035838246003ND
2023-10-3035838246004ND