Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Palmer Center Ugarc

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.

 

31

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND90ND
2021ND50ND
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
2018-01-10UG180098POCND
2018-05-09PC180872ND
2018-08-0108011820POCND
2018-08-13EHS1800035918POCND
2018-10-09PC182388ND
2019-01-07PC190059ND
2019-04-24WD190998ND
2019-07-1707171903ND
2019-10-1410151907ND
2020-01-0601072016-POCND
2020-04-2204222018ND
2020-05-1205122005ND
2020-06-0106012004ND
2020-07-0107012020ND
2020-07-2007202003ND
2020-08-1108112028-1-RAWND
2020-08-1108112028-2-DSND
2020-10-0110012002-2ND
2021-01-0501052119-PND
2021-01-25EHS2100013303PND
2021-04-0504052105NND
2021-07-0107012103ND
2021-10-0410042113ND
2022-01-0401042211ND
2022-04-0504052212ND
2022-07-0507052229ND
2022-10-0410042216-2ND
2023-01-0301032324-1ND
2023-04-0304032305ND
2023-07-05PC232245ND
2023-10-185530295ND