Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Richardson County Rural Water District 2

NOTE: Richardson County Rural Water District 2 purchases water from Falls City, City of which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by Falls City, City of.

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.

 

14

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND80ND
2021ND80ND
2022ND80ND
2023ND80ND

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

NOTE: Richardson County Rural Water District 2 purchases water from Falls City, City of which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by Falls City, City of.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-08-14567278ND
2018-08-14567277ND
2019-08-12628467ND
2019-08-12628466ND
2020-05-12667088ND
2020-08-10689941ND
2020-08-10689940ND
2021-08-09753825ND
2021-08-09753824ND
2022-08-09816220ND
2022-08-09816219ND
2023-06-12856281ND
2023-08-01880284ND
2023-08-01880285ND