Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Boh-nak Mobile Home Park

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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-02-01E18002794001ND
2018-05-03E18003986001ND
2018-07-26E19000268001ND
2018-11-08E19001598001ND
2019-03-28E19003182001ND
2019-06-06E19004198001ND
2019-09-05E20000965001ND
2019-10-24E20001624001ND
2020-03-05E20003055001ND
2020-06-03E20003736001ND
2020-07-23E21000238001ND
2020-10-22E21001138001ND
2021-02-10E21002098006ND
2021-05-21E21003420001ND
2021-07-15E22000161001ND
2021-09-22E22000963001ND
2021-11-17E2200089904ND
2022-02-15021522_02_021622250ND
2023-02-16E2300185106ND
2023-06-07E2300298601ND
2023-08-02E2400035701ND
2023-10-17E2400092901ND