Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Lido-point Lookout Water District

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.

 

47

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND80ND
2020ND80ND
2021ND120ND
2022ND120ND
2023ND10ND

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
2018-01-117040219008-POCND
2018-01-117040219009-POCND
2018-07-207058920005-POCND
2018-07-207058920006-POCND
2018-10-117067692006ND
2018-10-117067692005ND
2019-01-237077393003ND
2019-01-237077393004ND
2019-04-187086468008ND
2019-04-187086468009ND
2019-07-097096748007ND
2019-07-097096748006ND
2019-10-1770108828009ND
2019-10-1770108828008ND
2020-01-1470118357006ND
2020-01-1470118357005ND
2020-04-2370129041001ND
2020-04-2370129041002ND
2020-09-3070147753001ND
2020-10-0870148838005ND
2020-10-0870148838006ND
2020-10-0870148838007ND
2021-01-1570159661006ND
2021-01-1570159661007ND
2021-01-1570159661005ND
2021-06-0370175544005ND
2021-06-0870176052007ND
2021-06-0870176052006ND
2021-07-1570180617003ND
2021-07-1570180617002ND
2021-07-1570180617001ND
2021-10-2770192508001ND
2021-10-2770192508002ND
2021-10-2770192508004ND
2022-01-2570201886007ND
2022-01-2570201886008ND
2022-01-2570201886006ND
2022-06-1470218200001ND
2022-06-1470218200002ND
2022-06-2070219069001ND
2022-07-2170223046005ND
2022-07-2170223046006ND
2022-08-1670226006003ND
2022-10-0670232553002ND
2022-10-0670232553004ND
2022-10-0670232553001ND
2023-12-2070281775004ND