Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Pulaski County Public Water Supply District 2

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.

 

33

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND90ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND90ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-01-10AD12046ND
2018-03-05AD17401ND
2018-05-03AD18576ND
2018-06-04AD19098ND
2018-06-04AD19099ND
2018-06-04AD19100ND
2018-06-04AD19101ND
2018-07-11AD29485ND
2018-10-12AD35058ND
2019-01-08AD38366ND
2019-04-08AD46655ND
2019-07-12AD52707ND
2019-10-18AD57365ND
2020-01-13AD60686ND
2020-04-152004208ND
2020-07-172011559ND
2020-10-222016607ND
2021-01-112020177ND
2021-02-222101290ND
2021-02-222101292ND
2021-02-222101294ND
2021-02-222101298ND
2021-02-222101296ND
2021-04-192103691ND
2021-07-122113558ND
2021-10-252118127ND
2022-01-102121597ND
2022-04-112204306ND
2022-07-112214666ND
2022-10-122219661ND
2023-01-092223200ND
2023-04-112303410ND
2023-07-132311563ND