Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Barton Dade Cedar & Jasper Counties Consolidated Public Water Supply District 1

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.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND130ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND90ND
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
2019-05-20AD47670ND
2019-05-20AD47671ND
2019-05-20AD47672ND
2019-05-20AD47673ND
2019-05-20AD47674ND
2019-05-20AD47675ND
2019-05-20AD47676ND
2019-05-20AD47677ND
2019-05-20AD47669ND
2019-07-15AD53004ND
2019-07-15AD53005ND
2019-10-21AD57423ND
2019-10-21AD57424ND
2020-01-20AD60734ND
2020-01-20AD60735ND
2020-05-262009163ND
2020-05-262009164ND
2021-04-132104042ND
2021-04-132104041ND
2022-04-202204751ND
2022-04-202204750ND
2022-05-172211809ND
2022-05-172211810ND
2022-05-172211807ND
2022-05-172211806ND
2022-05-172211805ND
2022-05-172211804ND
2022-05-172211808ND
2023-04-172303746ND
2023-04-172303745ND