Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Bryants Creek Subdivision

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.

 

28

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
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND40ND
2021N/A00N/A
2022N/A00N/A
2023ND240ND

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
2020-02-02AD60438ND
2020-02-02AD60441ND
2020-02-02AD60439ND
2020-02-02AD60440ND
2023-01-312223849ND
2023-01-312223848ND
2023-01-312223850ND
2023-01-312223851ND
2023-02-222301504ND
2023-02-222301501ND
2023-02-222301502ND
2023-02-222301503ND
2023-06-052303971ND
2023-06-052303974ND
2023-06-052303972ND
2023-06-142310835ND
2023-06-202310889ND
2023-06-202310888ND
2023-06-202310890ND
2023-06-202310891ND
2023-09-192312324ND
2023-09-192312323ND
2023-09-202312326ND
2023-09-202312325ND
2023-11-082317365ND
2023-11-082317367ND
2023-11-082317368ND
2023-11-082317366ND