Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Town of Hampstead

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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND70ND
2020ND70ND
2021ND50ND
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
2018-10-02E19001151004ND
2018-10-02E19001151001ND
2019-08-28E20000817001ND
2019-08-28E20000817004ND
2019-08-28E20000817006ND
2019-08-28E20000817008ND
2019-08-28E20000817010ND
2019-08-28E20000817012ND
2019-08-28E20000817014ND
2020-03-03E20002984004ND
2020-06-03E20003719001ND
2020-06-03E20003719004ND
2020-07-29E21000294001ND
2020-07-29E21000294004ND
2020-09-01E064325-05ND
2020-10-28E21001178004ND
2021-01-21E21001850001ND
2021-06-03E21003568001ND
2021-09-08E22000814001ND
2021-09-08E22000814004ND
2021-11-08E220007804ND
2022-03-010060003_14_030122354ND
2022-05-25E2201063401ND
2023-03-22E2300224001ND
2023-03-22E2300224003ND