Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Rustic Ridge 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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND30ND
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
2018-01-2292370434002VOCND
2018-06-1992389064002VOCND
2018-10-1592403565001VOCND
2018-11-2092408223001VOCND
2019-06-2437729_19-26930ND
2019-07-2237729_19-30882ND
2019-10-0792448595001_12710ND
2020-03-2492470978001_12710ND
2020-06-2292483005002_12710ND
2020-09-2292496839001_12710ND
2020-11-1792506806001_12710ND
2021-03-0892526282001_12710ND
2021-04-1992533976001_12710ND
2021-07-1392549354001_12710ND
2021-10-1392566431001_12710ND
2022-01-2392583961001_12710ND
2022-04-0392596762001_12710ND
2022-10-0592629553001_12710ND
2023-01-2392648050001_12710ND
2023-09-1792688364001_12710ND