Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Styrene

Robeson County Water System

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

64

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND100ND
2015ND100ND
2016ND90ND
2017ND160ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND80ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-01-278410-012714-002VND
2014-01-278410-012714-001VND
2014-01-278410-012714-E15VND
2014-01-278410-012714-011VND
2014-01-278410-012714-009VND
2014-01-278410-012714-006VND
2014-01-278410-012714-005VND
2014-01-278410-012714-004VND
2014-01-278410-012714-008VND
2014-05-128410-051214-013VND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-03-16ND
2015-04-13ND
2015-06-08ND
2015-08-03ND
2015-12-01ND
2016-01-118410-011116-011VND
2016-01-118410-011116-012VND
2016-01-118410-011116-014VND
2016-01-118410-011116-E15VND
2016-02-028410-020216-001VND
2016-04-118410-041116-013VND
2016-05-108410-051016-001VND
2016-07-128410-071216-001VND
2016-10-048410-100416-001VND
2017-01-098410-010917-009VND
2017-01-098410-010917-011VND
2017-01-098410-010917-E15VND
2017-01-098410-010917-005VND
2017-01-098410-010917-008VND
2017-01-098410-010917-006VND
2017-01-108410-011017-004VND
2017-01-108410-011017-001VND
2017-01-108410-011017-002VND
2017-03-288410-032817-001VND
2017-06-128410-061217-001VND
2017-06-128410-061217-011VND
2017-07-108410-071017-011VND
2017-07-108410-071017-001VND
2017-10-038410-100317-001VND
2017-10-038410-100317-011VND
2018-01-238410-012318-014VND
2018-01-238410-012318-012VND
2018-01-238410-012318-011VND
2018-01-238410-012318-003VND
2018-01-238410-012318-001VND
2018-04-028410-040218-011VND
2018-06-198410-061918-001VND
2018-07-098410-070918-011VND
2018-09-048410-090418-001VND
2018-10-098410-100918-001VND
2018-10-098410-100918-011VND
2019-01-078410-010719-011VND
2019-01-078410-010719-012VND
2019-01-078410-010719-014VND
2019-03-128410-031219-001VND
2019-04-158410-041519-013VND
2019-04-158410-041519-011VND
2019-07-228410-072219-011VND
2019-10-078410-100719-011VND