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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

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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

 

51

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND100ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND90ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-01-1014011274-007ND
2014-01-1014011274-006ND
2014-04-0714041281-003ND
2014-04-0714041281-002ND
2014-07-2214072525-003ND
2014-07-2214072525-002ND
2014-07-2414073039-006ND
2014-07-2414073039-005ND
2014-10-1514100973-005ND
2014-10-1514100973-004ND
2015-01-0615010268-002ND
2015-01-23V5A0814-02ND
2015-04-022063807003ND
2015-04-022063807002ND
2015-07-062080982001ND
2015-07-302086712001ND
2015-10-092101217001ND
2015-11-162108987001ND
2016-01-042117299001ND
2016-01-042117300001ND
2016-06-162152721001ND
2016-06-202153529001ND
2016-08-302171453003ND
2016-08-302171453001ND
2016-12-122195431001ND
2016-12-122195433001ND
2017-01-162202442001ND
2017-01-162202442002ND
2017-06-122238057001ND
2017-06-122238058001ND
2017-08-112254412001ND
2017-08-112254413001ND
2017-11-072275541001ND
2017-11-142277313001ND
2017-11-142277314001ND
2018-01-117040263001-VOCND
2018-01-117040266001-VOCND
2018-05-117052094001-VOCND
2018-05-117052092001-VOCND
2018-08-087061166001-VOAND
2018-08-087061164001-VOAND
2018-11-157071445001-VOCND
2018-11-157071444001-VOCND
2019-01-167077044001-VOCND
2019-01-167077043001-VOCND
2019-04-067086517001-VOCND
2019-04-167086515001-VOCND
2019-08-1470101679001-VOCND
2019-08-1470101667001-VOCND
2019-10-2270109567001-VOCND
2019-10-2970110275001-VOCND