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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

City of Kinston

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

 

80

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND100ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND190ND
2017ND90ND
2018ND90ND
2019ND250ND

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
2014-02-048106-020414-E20VND
2014-02-048106-020414-E09VND
2014-05-078106-050714-E09VND
2014-06-178106-061714-E20VND
2014-08-148106-081414-E09VND
2014-09-168106-091614-E20VND
2014-10-218106-102114-E18VND
2014-10-218106-102114-E21VND
2014-11-058106-110514-E09VND
2014-12-168106-121614-E20VND
2015-01-28ND
2015-04-27ND
2015-06-09ND
2015-08-03ND
2015-08-03ND
2015-10-21ND
2015-12-08ND
2015-12-08ND
2016-03-078106-030716-E20VND
2016-03-078106-030716-E09VND
2016-05-048106-050416-E09VND
2016-05-048106-050416-E20VND
2016-08-028106-080216-E09VND
2016-08-028106-080216-E20VND
2016-10-318106-103116-E08VND
2016-10-318106-103116-E12VND
2016-10-318106-103116-E11VND
2016-10-318106-103116-E09VND
2016-10-318106-103116-E07VND
2016-10-318106-103116-E06VND
2016-10-318106-103116-E05VND
2016-10-318106-103116-E04VND
2016-10-318106-103116-E02VND
2016-11-018106-110116-E13VND
2016-11-028106-110216-E01VND
2016-11-028106-110216-E18VND
2016-11-078106-110716-E20VND
2017-02-018106-020117-E20VND
2017-02-018106-020117-E09VND
2017-05-028106-050217-E09VND
2017-05-028106-050217-E20VND
2017-08-148106-081417-E09VND
2017-08-148106-081417-E20VND
2017-10-238106-102317-E18VND
2017-10-238106-102317-E20VND
2017-11-148106-111417-E09VND
2018-02-148106-021418-E20VND
2018-02-148106-021418-E09VND
2018-05-078106-050718-E20VND
2018-05-088106-050818-E09VND
2018-07-318106-073118-E20VND
2018-07-318106-073118-E09VND
2018-11-068106-110618-E20VND
2018-11-068106-110618-E18VND
2018-11-068106-110618-E09VND
2019-02-058106-020519-E20VND
2019-02-058106-020519-E09VND
2019-05-068106-050619-E09VND
2019-05-078106-050719-E20VND
2019-08-058106-080519-E20VND
2019-08-058106-080519-E09VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E02VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E21VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E20VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E18VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E14VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E13VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E12VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E11VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E09VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E08VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E07VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E06VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E05VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E04VND
2019-09-308106-093019-E01VND
2019-11-188106-111819-E20VND
2019-11-188106-111819-E09VND
2019-12-128106-121219-E13VND
2019-12-128106-121219-E08VND