Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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.

 

95

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND80ND
2019ND130ND
2020ND230ND
2021ND180ND
2022ND180ND
2023ND150ND

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
2018-01-30AF74813ND
2018-01-30AF74814ND
2018-02-13AF75932ND
2018-03-23AF79016ND
2018-06-22AF86999ND
2018-08-30AF94269ND
2018-10-03AF96985ND
2018-12-27AG04620ND
2019-02-11AG07773ND
2019-02-11AG07771ND
2019-02-11AG07775ND
2019-02-11AG07772ND
2019-02-27AG09179ND
2019-04-11AG13046ND
2019-04-11AG13047ND
2019-05-09AG16016ND
2019-05-09AG16019ND
2019-05-23AG16891ND
2019-08-21AG28299ND
2019-09-18AG31925ND
2019-09-18AG31924ND
2020-01-1621502673.00ND
2020-01-1621502652.00ND
2020-01-1621502631.00ND
2020-01-1621502610.00ND
2020-03-1221846196.00ND
2020-03-1221846175.00ND
2020-03-1221846154.00ND
2020-03-1221846133.00ND
2020-03-1221846112.00ND
2020-04-0822021674.00ND
2020-04-0822021632.00ND
2020-04-0822021611.00ND
2020-04-0822021653.00ND
2020-05-2022214516.00ND
2020-05-2022214495.00ND
2020-07-2222607050.00ND
2020-07-2222607029.00ND
2020-07-2222607071.00ND
2020-07-2222607008.00ND
2020-10-2123181857.00ND
2020-10-2123181836.00ND
2020-10-2123181794.00ND
2020-10-2123181815.00ND
2021-01-0623888214.00ND
2021-01-0623888193.00ND
2021-01-0623888151.00ND
2021-01-0623888172.00ND
2021-05-1324438519.00ND
2021-05-1324438498.00ND
2021-05-1324438477.00ND
2021-05-1324438456.00ND
2021-07-0824828079.00ND
2021-07-2124828184.00ND
2021-07-2124828247.00ND
2021-07-2124828226.00ND
2021-07-2124828205.00ND
2021-07-2925022397.00ND
2021-09-2925220242.00ND
2021-10-0725403902.00ND
2021-10-1325403924.00ND
2021-10-2725403947.00ND
2022-01-0526117102.00ND
2022-01-1226117060.00ND
2022-01-1226117081.00ND
2022-02-1026117159.00ND
2022-02-1726117039.00ND
2022-02-2426117136.00ND
2022-04-0626463516.00ND
2022-04-2026463558.00ND
2022-04-2026463579.00ND
2022-04-2026463537.00ND
2022-07-0727037112.00ND
2022-07-1327037091.00ND
2022-07-1327037070.00ND
2022-07-1427037049.00ND
2022-11-0227823003.00ND
2022-11-0927822940.00ND
2022-11-1027822961.00ND
2022-11-1027822982.00ND
2023-01-1828172714.00ND
2023-01-1928172693.00ND
2023-01-2628172735.00ND
2023-01-2628172756.00ND
2023-04-1228702145.00ND
2023-04-2628702187.00ND
2023-04-2628702208.00ND
2023-04-2628702124.00ND
2023-04-2628702166.00ND
2023-07-2729301900.00ND
2023-07-2729301879.00ND
2023-07-2729301921.00ND
2023-10-1929886679.00ND
2023-10-1929886658.00ND
2023-10-1929886637.00ND