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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

City of Columbus

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

 

98

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND130ND
2015ND210ND
2016ND200ND
2017ND210ND
2018ND170ND
2019ND60ND

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
2014-01-27278476ND
2014-04-07293475ND
2014-07-07309738ND
2014-08-11310474ND
2014-09-23324187ND
2014-09-23324188ND
2014-09-23324189ND
2014-09-23324190ND
2014-10-06328594ND
2014-10-27332909ND
2014-10-27332910ND
2014-10-27332911ND
2014-10-27332912ND
2015-01-05343322ND
2015-02-09343323ND
2015-03-02348718ND
2015-03-02348719ND
2015-03-02348720ND
2015-03-02348721ND
2015-04-01353635ND
2015-06-01364957ND
2015-06-01364958ND
2015-06-01364959ND
2015-06-01364960ND
2015-07-06371054ND
2015-09-08378741ND
2015-09-08378743ND
2015-09-08378742ND
2015-09-08378740ND
2015-10-05391882ND
2015-12-01402126ND
2015-12-01402127ND
2015-12-01402128ND
2015-12-01402129ND
2016-01-20ND
2016-02-29ND
2016-02-29ND
2016-02-29ND
2016-02-29ND
2016-04-11ND
2016-06-08ND
2016-06-08ND
2016-06-08ND
2016-06-08ND
2016-07-05ND
2016-09-06ND
2016-09-06ND
2016-09-06ND
2016-09-06ND
2016-11-07ND
2016-12-05ND
2016-12-05ND
2016-12-05ND
2016-12-05ND
2017-03-01ND
2017-03-06ND
2017-03-06ND
2017-03-06ND
2017-03-06ND
2017-04-10ND
2017-06-05ND
2017-06-05ND
2017-06-05ND
2017-06-05ND
2017-06-12ND
2017-09-06ND
2017-09-06ND
2017-09-06ND
2017-09-06ND
2017-09-11ND
2017-10-10ND
2017-12-04ND
2017-12-04ND
2017-12-04ND
2017-12-04ND
2018-01-03530737ND
2018-02-26530738ND
2018-03-05534068ND
2018-03-05534067ND
2018-03-05534066ND
2018-03-05534065ND
2018-04-02541803ND
2018-06-04549786ND
2018-06-04549787ND
2018-06-04549788ND
2018-06-04549789ND
2018-07-09560150ND
2018-09-04568495ND
2018-09-04568496ND
2018-09-04568497ND
2018-09-04568498ND
2018-10-15577007ND
2019-01-14590554ND
2019-04-01602852ND
2019-07-08621112ND
2019-07-15623646ND
2019-07-15623645ND
2019-10-07638483ND