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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

South Orange Water Department

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

 

163

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND510ND
2015ND420ND
2016ND240ND
2017ND230ND
2018ND230ND
2019N/A00N/A

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
2014-01-0724923-2ND
2014-01-0724923-1ND
2014-01-2825219-2ND
2014-01-2825219-1ND
2014-02-0625317-2ND
2014-02-0625317-1ND
2014-02-2525575-2ND
2014-02-2525575-1ND
2014-03-0425673-2ND
2014-03-0425673-1ND
2014-03-2526001-2ND
2014-03-2526001-1ND
2014-04-0226092-2ND
2014-04-0226092-1ND
2014-04-2926465-2ND
2014-04-2926465-1ND
2014-05-0826616-2ND
2014-05-0826616-1ND
2014-05-2926935-2ND
2014-05-2926935-1ND
2014-06-1027081-2ND
2014-06-1027081-1ND
2014-06-1727254-2ND
2014-06-1727254-1ND
2014-06-2427398-2ND
2014-06-2427398-1ND
2014-07-1027715-2ND
2014-07-1027715-1ND
2014-07-3128097-2ND
2014-07-3128097-1ND
2014-08-0528148-2ND
2014-08-0528148-1ND
2014-08-1228235-1ND
2014-08-2728574-2ND
2014-08-2728574-1ND
2014-09-2229006-2ND
2014-09-2229006-1ND
2014-09-2929151-2ND
2014-09-2929151-1ND
2014-10-0729280-2ND
2014-10-0729280-1ND
2014-10-2929623-2ND
2014-10-2929623-1ND
2014-11-0529742-2ND
2014-11-0529742-1ND
2014-11-2530046-2ND
2014-11-2530046-1ND
2014-12-0230115-2ND
2014-12-0230115-1ND
2014-12-2330471-2ND
2014-12-2330471-1ND
2015-01-0830669-2ND
2015-01-0830669-1ND
2015-01-2630980-2ND
2015-01-2630980-1ND
2015-02-0531105-2ND
2015-02-0531105-1ND
2015-02-2431402-2ND
2015-02-2431402-1ND
2015-03-1031594-2ND
2015-03-1031594-1ND
2015-03-2331821-2ND
2015-03-2331821-1ND
2015-04-07DWS110-2ND
2015-04-07DWS110-1ND
2015-04-28DWS319-1ND
2015-04-28DWS319-2ND
2015-05-05DWS434-2ND
2015-05-05DWS434-1ND
2015-05-27DWS654-2ND
2015-05-27DWS654-1ND
2015-06-16DWS863-2ND
2015-06-16DWS863-1ND
2015-07-07DWS1064-2ND
2015-07-07DWS1064-1ND
2015-07-28DWSC112-2ND
2015-07-28DWSC112-1ND
2015-08-11DWSC238-2ND
2015-08-11DWSC238-1ND
2015-08-25DWSC284-2ND
2015-08-25DWSC284-1ND
2015-09-08DWSC337-2ND
2015-09-08DWSC337-1ND
2015-09-22DWSC443-2ND
2015-09-22DWSC443-1ND
2015-10-06DWSC534-2ND
2015-10-06DWSC534-1ND
2015-10-27DWSC666-2ND
2015-10-27DWSC666-1ND
2015-11-045110116-02ND
2015-11-185110563-01ND
2015-12-025120038-02ND
2015-12-155120440-02ND
2016-01-056010028-02ND
2016-01-206010517-02ND
2016-02-046020137-01ND
2016-02-236020587-02ND
2016-03-016030010-02ND
2016-03-306030923-02ND
2016-04-056040127-02ND
2016-04-216040720-02ND
2016-05-036050053-02ND
2016-05-176050535-02ND
2016-06-146060418-02ND
2016-06-286060839-02ND
2016-07-066070089-02ND
2016-07-286070829-02ND
2016-08-026080054-02ND
2016-08-236080744-02ND
2016-09-086090223-02ND
2016-09-206090535-02ND
2016-10-046100043-02ND
2016-10-186100493-02ND
2016-11-016110002-02ND
2016-11-156110446-02ND
2016-12-206120633-02ND
2016-12-226120704-02ND
2017-01-3034505701ND
2017-02-1634708301ND
2017-02-2834708401ND
2017-03-0934864301ND
2017-03-2934864401ND
2017-04-2035673201ND
2017-05-1135529501ND
2017-05-3035529601ND
2017-06-0735918401ND
2017-06-2135918501ND
2017-07-0336176801ND
2017-07-2736176901ND
2017-08-1036798501ND
2017-08-2436798601ND
2017-09-0636961501ND
2017-09-2236961601ND
2017-10-0537313301ND
2017-10-2037313401ND
2017-10-3137313501ND
2017-11-0737638001ND
2017-12-0537958901ND
2017-12-1837959001ND
2017-12-2837959101ND
2018-01-1238301201ND
2018-01-2338301301ND
2018-02-0638660201ND
2018-02-2338660301ND
2018-03-0138898601ND
2018-03-1338898701ND
2018-04-0239159401ND
2018-04-0539159301ND
2018-04-1839159501ND
2018-05-0139447001ND
2018-05-1639447101ND
2018-06-0539902501ND
2018-06-2840483801ND
2018-07-1140391101ND
2018-07-2440391201ND
2018-08-0840391301ND
2018-08-2240835401ND
2018-09-1841046001ND
2018-09-2641046101ND
2018-10-0341455101ND
2018-10-1841454901ND
2018-11-0741843001ND
2018-11-2041843101ND