Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

NJ American Water - Frenchtown

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.

 

34

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND90ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

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

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-1238419201ND
2018-02-0638710701ND
2018-02-0638791801ND
2018-04-0539255601ND
2018-04-0539255201ND
2018-07-0340422701ND
2018-07-0340422301ND
2018-10-0541594601ND
2018-10-0541594301ND
2019-01-0442615201ND
2019-01-0442614901ND
2019-04-0843680101ND
2019-04-0843680001ND
2019-07-0945175701ND
2019-10-0446921701ND
2020-01-1048044201ND
2020-01-1048043801ND
2020-04-0649504101ND
2020-07-0950699701ND
2020-11-1852186501ND
2021-01-1153065201ND
2021-03-0953779401ND
2021-03-0953779301ND
2021-04-0854036801ND
2021-07-2055468701ND
2021-10-0956465401ND
2022-01-0757278101ND
2022-04-0758299201ND
2022-07-1259529401ND
2022-10-0560535201ND
2023-01-0561622801ND
2023-04-0562874201ND
2023-07-1266835001ND
2023-10-0468009801ND