Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Rapides Parish Waterworks 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.

 

36

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND140ND
2021ND120ND
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
2018-03-2235381823001ND
2018-03-2235381823001ND
2019-04-1735463257001ND
2019-04-1735463257001ND
2020-01-2135525783003ND
2020-01-2135525783002ND
2020-01-2135525783001ND
2020-03-1135540206001ND
2020-03-1135537099001ND
2020-04-0735542640001ND
2020-04-0735542640002ND
2020-04-2235545475001ND
2020-06-2635559394001ND
2020-06-2635559394002ND
2020-08-2135572727002ND
2020-08-2135572727001ND
2020-11-1735593329002ND
2020-11-1735593329001ND
2021-03-1635619989001ND
2021-03-1635619989002ND
2021-05-0535631376001ND
2021-05-0535631390001ND
2021-05-0535631390002ND
2021-06-0235638318001ND
2021-06-2335643405001ND
2021-07-0135644790001ND
2021-09-0935662178001ND
2021-09-0935662178002ND
2021-10-0535668367001ND
2021-10-0535668367002ND
2022-04-1835712509001ND
2023-01-1835773982001ND
2023-01-1835773982002ND
2023-01-1835773982003ND
2023-04-0335790618001ND
2023-10-2635837466001ND