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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Albuquerque Water System

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

 

74

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND330ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND300ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND10ND

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
2014-02-122014005224ND
2014-02-122014005225ND
2014-02-122014005208ND
2014-02-122014005216ND
2014-02-122014005217ND
2014-02-122014005220ND
2014-02-122014005209ND
2014-02-122014005210ND
2014-02-122014005222ND
2014-02-122014005226ND
2014-02-122014005212ND
2014-02-132014005214ND
2014-02-132014005218ND
2014-02-132014005223ND
2014-02-132014005219ND
2014-02-132014005221ND
2014-02-132014005213ND
2014-02-132014005215ND
2014-02-132014005211ND
2014-02-192014006004ND
2014-02-192014006000ND
2014-02-192014006002ND
2014-02-192014006005ND
2014-02-192014006003ND
2014-02-192014006007ND
2014-02-192014006006ND
2014-02-192014006001ND
2014-02-192014006008ND
2014-02-272014006956ND
2014-02-272014006957ND
2014-07-172014022720ND
2014-07-282014023755ND
2014-12-012014036488ND
2015-02-172015006114ND
2015-03-132015008279ND
2015-06-112015017233ND
2015-09-102015027314ND
2015-11-192015034572ND
2016-01-142016001397ND
2016-03-212016008127ND
2016-09-092016026388ND
2017-02-282017005878ND
2017-02-282017005875ND
2017-02-282017005876ND
2017-02-282017005877ND
2017-03-022017006210ND
2017-03-022017006209ND
2017-03-022017006208ND
2017-03-022017006211ND
2017-03-072017006572ND
2017-03-072017006571ND
2017-03-072017006570ND
2017-03-072017006569ND
2017-03-092017006923ND
2017-03-092017006924ND
2017-03-092017006925ND
2017-03-092017006926ND
2017-03-142017007332ND
2017-03-142017007330ND
2017-03-142017007329ND
2017-03-142017007333ND
2017-03-142017007331ND
2017-03-162017007664ND
2017-03-162017007663ND
2017-03-162017007666ND
2017-03-162017007665ND
2017-03-162017007667ND
2017-05-092017013875ND
2017-05-092017013876ND
2017-05-092017013874ND
2017-05-242017015729ND
2018-05-072018012862ND
2018-10-312018031088ND
2019-02-122019003655ND