Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Taneytown

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
2018ND130ND
2019ND120ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND20ND
2022N/A00N/A
2023ND60ND

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
2018-03-052300211001ND
2018-03-13E18003311004ND
2018-06-20E18004567001ND
2018-06-262322947001ND
2018-07-102325449001ND
2018-07-102325449002ND
2018-08-16E19000551001ND
2018-08-16E19000551004ND
2018-08-16E19000551006ND
2018-08-16E19000551008ND
2018-08-202333891001ND
2018-10-24E19001379001ND
2018-11-062349403001ND
2019-03-193022708001ND
2019-06-033037434001ND
2019-06-13E19004289004ND
2019-07-153045714001ND
2019-07-153045712001ND
2019-07-25E20000354012ND
2019-07-25E20000354008ND
2019-07-25E20000354006ND
2019-07-25E20000354004ND
2019-07-25E20000354001ND
2019-07-25E20000354010ND
2019-11-053068008001ND
2020-02-183087316001ND
2020-03-03E20002984006ND
2020-09-16E21000751006ND
2020-09-16E21000751004ND
2020-09-16E21000751001ND
2021-03-15E21002483001ND
2021-03-15E21002483004ND
2023-03-21E2300223601ND
2023-03-21E2300223701ND
2023-05-23E2300281402ND
2023-05-23E2300281404ND
2023-05-23E2300281406ND
2023-05-23E2300281408ND