Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Minatare, City of

NOTE: Minatare, City of purchases water from City of Scottsbluff which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Scottsbluff.

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.

 

31

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
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

NOTE: Minatare, City of purchases water from City of Scottsbluff which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Scottsbluff.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-08-28568512ND
2018-08-28568511ND
2019-08-19618547ND
2019-08-27628418ND
2019-08-27628419ND
2019-09-23618548ND
2019-09-23618549ND
2020-03-16650503ND
2020-05-11669655ND
2020-08-24689883ND
2020-08-24689882ND
2020-11-30703358ND
2020-11-30703354ND
2020-11-30703355ND
2020-11-30703359ND
2020-11-30703357ND
2020-11-30703356ND
2021-08-23753774ND
2021-08-23753775ND
2022-08-15816149ND
2022-08-15816150ND
2022-09-06823939ND
2022-09-26809645ND
2022-09-26809644ND
2023-08-21880234ND
2023-08-21880235ND
2023-12-13891659ND
2023-12-13891661ND
2023-12-13891660ND
2023-12-13891662ND
2023-12-13891658ND