Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Jefferson Parish

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.

 

33

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND120ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND30ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-03-1535380393003ND
2018-03-1535380393002ND
2018-03-1535380393001ND
2018-03-1535380393002ND
2018-03-1535380393003ND
2018-03-1535380393001ND
2019-02-2735451088001ND
2019-02-2735451093001ND
2019-02-2735451094001ND
2019-02-2735451094001ND
2019-02-2735451093001ND
2019-02-2735451088001ND
2019-09-0535495383002ND
2019-09-0535495383002ND
2019-09-0535495383001ND
2019-09-0535495383003ND
2019-09-0535495383001ND
2019-09-0535495383003ND
2020-03-2635540013001ND
2020-03-2635540015001ND
2020-03-2635540021001ND
2021-01-2835608086001ND
2021-01-2835608082001ND
2021-01-2835608080001ND
2021-03-1035618309001ND
2021-03-1035618308001ND
2021-03-1035618306001ND
2022-01-2535692989001ND
2022-01-2535692990001ND
2022-01-2535692991001ND
2023-01-1135772258001ND
2023-01-1135772259001ND
2023-01-1135772260001ND