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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Horsham Water&sewer 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

 

106

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND230ND
2015ND240ND
2016ND220ND
2017ND160ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND130ND

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
2014-01-09AE19948ND
2014-01-09AE19956ND
2014-01-09AE19959ND
2014-01-24AE21287ND
2014-02-19AE24091ND
2014-02-19AE24093ND
2014-02-19AE24094ND
2014-02-19AE24099ND
2014-02-19AE24100ND
2014-02-20AE24092ND
2014-04-16AE29642ND
2014-04-16AE29643ND
2014-04-16AE29635ND
2014-04-16AE29638ND
2014-04-16AE29639ND
2014-07-23AE41288ND
2014-07-23AE41289ND
2014-08-13AE43999ND
2014-08-13AE44001ND
2014-08-13AE44009ND
2014-10-08AE51808ND
2014-10-09AE51797ND
2014-10-09AE51805ND
2015-01-1612286584ND
2015-01-1612286588ND
2015-01-1612286614ND
2015-03-0412514947ND
2015-03-0412514968ND
2015-03-0412514989ND
2015-03-0412515010ND
2015-03-0412515031ND
2015-03-0412515052ND
2015-03-0412515073ND
2015-03-0412515094ND
2015-03-0412515115ND
2015-04-1612632999ND
2015-04-1612633041ND
2015-04-1612633062ND
2015-04-2312633020ND
2015-07-1513012151ND
2015-07-1513012193ND
2015-07-1713012130ND
2015-07-1713012172ND
2015-10-1313388724ND
2015-10-1413388661ND
2015-10-1413388682ND
2015-10-1413388703ND
2016-01-1213752686ND
2016-01-1213752707ND
2016-01-1213752728ND
2016-02-1613869808ND
2016-03-1613985452ND
2016-03-1613985473ND
2016-03-1613985509ND
2016-03-1613985536ND
2016-03-1613985557ND
2016-03-1613985578ND
2016-03-1713985431ND
2016-03-1713985494ND
2016-04-2614102755ND
2016-05-1714250269ND
2016-05-1714250290ND
2016-05-1714250311ND
2016-07-1914569347ND
2016-07-1914569368ND
2016-07-1914569389ND
2016-10-2615075529ND
2016-10-2615075550ND
2016-10-2615075571ND
2017-01-0515517132ND
2017-01-0515517090ND
2017-01-2515517111ND
2017-02-1415655279ND
2017-02-1415655300ND
2017-02-1415655237ND
2017-02-1415655258ND
2017-03-3015795480ND
2017-04-0515936829ND
2017-04-0515936850ND
2017-04-0515936871ND
2017-04-1815936808ND
2017-08-0916565756ND
2017-08-1616565714ND
2017-08-1616565735ND
2017-10-1016880025ND
2018-01-30AF74814ND
2018-01-30AF74813ND
2018-02-13AF75932ND
2018-03-23AF79016ND
2018-06-22AF86999ND
2018-08-30AF94269ND
2018-10-03AF96985ND
2018-12-27AG04620ND
2019-02-11AG07771ND
2019-02-11AG07772ND
2019-02-11AG07773ND
2019-02-11AG07775ND
2019-02-27AG09179ND
2019-04-11AG13046ND
2019-04-11AG13047ND
2019-05-09AG16016ND
2019-05-09AG16019ND
2019-05-23AG16891ND
2019-08-21AG28299ND
2019-09-18AG31924ND
2019-09-18AG31925ND