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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Northampton Bucks County Municipal 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

 

93

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND230ND
2015ND150ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND210ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND120ND

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
2014-02-25L4951922-1ND
2014-02-25L4951918-1ND
2014-05-20L4690565-1ND
2014-05-20L4799412-1ND
2014-07-17L5163463-2ND
2014-07-17L5163463-1ND
2014-07-17L5163463-13ND
2014-07-17L5163463-15ND
2014-07-17L5163463-14ND
2014-07-17L5163463-6ND
2014-07-17L5163463-12ND
2014-07-17L5163463-10ND
2014-07-17L5163463-11ND
2014-07-17L5163463-9ND
2014-07-17L5163463-8ND
2014-07-17L5163463-7ND
2014-07-17L5163463-4ND
2014-07-17L5163463-3ND
2014-07-17L5163463-5ND
2014-08-15L4460454-1ND
2014-08-15L4359849-1ND
2014-12-04L5352437-1ND
2014-12-04L5352436-1ND
2015-02-1012390448ND
2015-02-1012390502ND
2015-05-1112738504ND
2015-05-1112738450ND
2015-07-0913859393ND
2015-07-0913859339ND
2015-07-0913859447ND
2015-08-1913123846ND
2015-08-1913123900ND
2015-08-2813124421ND
2015-11-2013503548ND
2015-11-2013503602ND
2015-11-2013503494ND
2015-11-2013503440ND
2015-11-2013503386ND
2016-02-2313975175ND
2016-02-2313975122ND
2016-02-2313975069ND
2016-02-2313975016ND
2016-02-2313974963ND
2016-05-2414237923ND
2016-07-2114555734ND
2016-07-2114555786ND
2016-07-2114555682ND
2016-07-2114555630ND
2016-08-3014892526ND
2017-02-2715644190ND
2017-06-0716243979ND
2017-08-0116551942ND
2017-08-0116551994ND
2017-08-0116552098ND
2017-08-0116551786ND
2017-08-0116551838ND
2017-08-0116551890ND
2017-08-0116552046ND
2017-08-0116552150ND
2017-08-1716553176ND
2017-08-1716553020ND
2017-08-1716553280ND
2017-08-1716553072ND
2017-08-1716553124ND
2017-08-1716553228ND
2017-08-2416552836ND
2017-08-2416552888ND
2017-08-2416552732ND
2017-08-2416552940ND
2017-08-2416552784ND
2018-01-29L6996345-1ND
2018-05-228013250-02ND
2018-05-228013250-01ND
2018-07-238019104-04ND
2018-07-238019104-03ND
2018-07-238019104-02ND
2018-07-238019104-01ND
2018-08-278024440-05ND
2018-08-278024440-01ND
2018-11-208028289-05REND
2018-11-208028289-01ND
2019-02-269006185-05ND
2019-02-269006185-01ND
2019-04-299009352-01ND
2019-04-299010209-01ND
2019-04-299010209-04ND
2019-04-299010209-02ND
2019-04-299010209-03ND
2019-04-299009352-05ND
2019-07-179021348-01ND
2019-07-179021348-05ND
2019-10-089034544-05ND
2019-10-089034544-01ND