Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Waysons Mobile Court

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.

 

18

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
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND80ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

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
2020-01-29E20002533008ND
2020-01-29E20002533006ND
2020-04-28E20003450001ND
2020-04-28E20003451001ND
2020-07-21E21000205001ND
2020-07-21E21000205004ND
2020-10-28E21001188006ND
2020-10-28E21001188008ND
2021-02-16E21002129004ND
2021-02-16E21002129001ND
2021-04-12E21002853001ND
2021-04-12E21002853004ND
2021-08-30E22000728001ND
2021-08-30E22000728004ND
2022-02-010020223_01_02022225ND
2022-02-010020223_02_020222128ND
2023-07-06E2400002501ND
2023-07-06E2400002601ND