Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Burr Oak

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.

 

49

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND90ND
20220.0667 ppb121ND - 0.800 ppb
2023ND130ND

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
2018-03-08LLH69426ND
2018-05-30LLH82924ND
2018-08-27LLI01494ND
2018-11-19LLI15976ND
2018-11-19LLI15978ND
2018-11-19LLI15977ND
2019-03-07LLI28317ND
2019-06-27LLI46828ND
2019-07-24LLI52063ND
2019-10-10LLI70511ND
2019-12-27LLI86075ND
2020-01-13ND
2020-04-09ND
2020-07-20ND
2020-10-13ND
2021-01-27ND
2021-06-24ND
2021-06-24ND
2021-06-24ND
2021-09-28ND
2021-09-28ND
2021-10-13ND
2021-10-13ND
2021-10-13ND
2022-01-19ND
2022-01-19ND
2022-01-19ND
2022-06-08ND
2022-06-08ND
2022-06-08ND
2022-09-01ND
2022-09-01ND
2022-09-01ND
2022-10-19ND
2022-10-190.800 ppb
2022-10-19ND
2023-03-16ND
2023-03-16ND
2023-03-16ND
2023-05-10ND
2023-05-10ND
2023-05-10ND
2023-09-14ND
2023-09-14ND
2023-09-25ND
2023-09-25ND
2023-10-19ND
2023-10-19ND
2023-10-19ND