Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Morrisville State College

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.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND30ND
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
2018-11-0811081801CND
2018-11-0811081802CND
2018-11-0811081803CND
2019-10-1710171906CPOCND
2019-10-1710171905CPOCND
2019-10-1710171907CPOCND
2020-10-0710072004CPOCND
2020-10-0710072005CPOCND
2020-10-0710072003CPOCND
2021-11-0411042104CND
2021-11-0411042103CND
2021-11-0411042102CND
2022-11-0911092203CND
2022-11-0911092202CND
2022-11-0911092201CND
2023-06-21EHS2300034560POCND
2023-12-0712072304CND
2023-12-0712072302CND
2023-12-0712072303CND