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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Natick Water Department

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

133

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND220ND
2015ND220ND
2016ND220ND
2017ND230ND
2018ND230ND
2019ND210ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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 Result
2014-01-14ND
2014-01-14ND
2014-01-14ND
2014-02-04ND
2014-03-04ND
2014-04-01ND
2014-05-06ND
2014-05-06ND
2014-05-13ND
2014-06-03ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-08-05ND
2014-08-06ND
2014-08-06ND
2014-09-02ND
2014-09-03ND
2014-10-14ND
2014-10-14ND
2014-10-14ND
2014-10-14ND
2014-11-04ND
2014-12-02ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-02-03ND
2015-03-03ND
2015-04-07ND
2015-04-22ND
2015-04-22ND
2015-04-22ND
2015-05-05ND
2015-06-03ND
2015-07-07ND
2015-08-04ND
2015-08-04ND
2015-08-04ND
2015-09-01ND
2015-10-07ND
2015-11-03ND
2015-11-03ND
2015-11-03ND
2015-11-03ND
2015-12-09ND
2016-01-06ND
2016-02-02ND
2016-02-02ND
2016-02-02ND
2016-02-02ND
2016-03-01ND
2016-04-13ND
2016-05-03ND
2016-05-03ND
2016-05-03ND
2016-06-08ND
2016-07-06ND
2016-08-02ND
2016-08-02ND
2016-08-02ND
2016-09-07ND
2016-10-04ND
2016-11-01ND
2016-11-01ND
2016-11-01ND
2016-11-01ND
2016-12-06ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-02-08ND
2017-02-08ND
2017-02-08ND
2017-03-07ND
2017-04-05ND
2017-05-03ND
2017-05-03ND
2017-05-03ND
2017-05-03ND
2017-06-07ND
2017-07-05ND
2017-08-01ND
2017-08-09ND
2017-08-09ND
2017-08-09ND
2017-09-05ND
2017-10-03ND
2017-11-08ND
2017-11-08ND
2017-11-08ND
2017-11-08ND
2017-12-05ND
2018-01-03ND
2018-02-08ND
2018-02-08ND
2018-02-08ND
2018-03-12ND
2018-04-03ND
2018-05-01ND
2018-05-08ND
2018-05-08ND
2018-05-08ND
2018-06-05ND
2018-07-10ND
2018-07-10ND
2018-07-10ND
2018-07-10ND
2018-08-07ND
2018-09-04ND
2018-10-02ND
2018-11-06ND
2018-11-06ND
2018-11-06ND
2018-11-06ND
2018-12-04ND
2019-01-02ND
2019-02-05ND
2019-02-05ND
2019-02-05ND
2019-02-19ND
2019-03-12ND
2019-04-02ND
2019-05-07ND
2019-05-07ND
2019-05-15ND
2019-07-02ND
2019-08-06ND
2019-08-06ND
2019-08-06ND
2019-09-03ND
2019-11-05ND
2019-11-05ND
2019-11-05ND
2019-11-05ND
2019-11-12ND
2019-12-10ND