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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Perkasie Regional Authority

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

 

57

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND110ND
2015ND110ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND70ND

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
2014-03-11L2515685-1ND
2014-03-11L2515685-2ND
2014-06-10L5101092-11ND
2014-06-10L5101092-12ND
2014-09-09L5170431-1ND
2014-09-09L5170431-3ND
2014-09-09L5170431-5ND
2014-09-09L5170431-2ND
2014-09-09L5170431-4ND
2014-12-09L5292845-1ND
2014-12-09L5292845-2ND
2015-03-1012501706ND
2015-03-1012501760ND
2015-06-0912867695ND
2015-06-0912867749ND
2015-09-0813250127ND
2015-09-0813250235ND
2015-09-0813250181ND
2015-09-0813250289ND
2015-09-0813250343ND
2015-12-0813619664ND
2015-12-0813619718ND
2016-03-0813972814ND
2016-03-0813972762ND
2016-06-0714389131ND
2016-06-0714389079ND
2016-09-1314889477ND
2016-09-1314889633ND
2016-09-1314889581ND
2016-09-1314889685ND
2016-09-1314889529ND
2016-12-0615356039ND
2016-12-0615356091ND
2017-03-0715780145ND
2017-03-0715780197ND
2017-06-0616240770ND
2017-06-0616240822ND
2017-09-0516711087ND
2017-09-0516710983ND
2017-09-0516711035ND
2017-09-0516710931ND
2017-12-0517146826ND
2017-12-0517146878ND
2018-03-068024485-02ND
2018-06-048052857-02ND
2018-09-048084662-02ND
2018-09-178093548-03ND
2018-09-178093548-02ND
2018-09-178093548-01ND
2018-12-038110453-02REND
2019-03-059023322-02ND
2019-06-049053891-02ND
2019-09-039084135-02ND
2019-11-119111441-02ND
2019-11-119111441-03ND
2019-11-119111441-01ND
2019-12-039113323-02ND