Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Ward II Water District

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.

 

38

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND140ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND140ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND50ND

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
2018-06-2535400823005ND
2018-06-2535400823001ND
2018-06-2535400823002ND
2018-06-2535400823003ND
2018-06-2535400823004ND
2018-06-2535400823005ND
2018-06-2535400823004ND
2018-06-2535400823003ND
2018-06-2535400823001ND
2018-06-2535400823002ND
2018-08-0735409917001ND
2018-08-0735409917001ND
2018-09-1035417396001ND
2018-09-1035417396001ND
2019-07-2435485209001ND
2019-07-2435485209001ND
2020-06-2335558765001ND
2020-06-2335558765002ND
2021-03-2935622757003ND
2021-03-2935622757002ND
2021-03-2935622757001ND
2021-06-1435641231005ND
2021-06-1435641231004ND
2021-06-1435641231001ND
2021-06-1435641231002ND
2021-06-1435641231003ND
2021-06-2835644430002ND
2021-06-2835644434003ND
2021-06-2835644434002ND
2021-06-2835644434001ND
2021-06-2835644430003ND
2021-06-2835644430001ND
2022-08-2235742597001ND
2023-05-0835799020002ND
2023-05-0835799020003ND
2023-05-0835799020004ND
2023-05-0835799020005ND
2023-09-1335827486001ND