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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

North Wales Water 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

 

77

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND120ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND140ND
2017ND130ND
2018ND130ND
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
2014-03-0420140745ND
2014-03-1720140959ND
2014-03-1720140958ND
2014-03-1720140966ND
2014-03-1720140965ND
2014-03-1720140964ND
2014-03-1720140963ND
2014-03-1720140962ND
2014-03-1720140961ND
2014-03-1720140960ND
2014-06-1020141963ND
2014-08-0520142640ND
2015-03-1012516877ND
2015-03-1612516772ND
2015-03-1612516856ND
2015-03-1612516835ND
2015-03-1612516814ND
2015-03-1612516793ND
2015-03-1612516751ND
2015-03-1612516730ND
2015-03-1612516709ND
2015-03-1612516688ND
2015-07-0613014459ND
2015-09-1413265899ND
2015-12-0113634682ND
2016-03-0713987507ND
2016-03-1413987444ND
2016-03-1413987486ND
2016-03-1413987465ND
2016-03-1413987423ND
2016-03-1413987402ND
2016-03-1413987381ND
2016-03-1413987360ND
2016-03-1413987339ND
2016-03-1413987318ND
2016-06-0714407388ND
2016-06-2914407415ND
2016-09-0614909864ND
2016-12-0615374032ND
2017-03-1615797875ND
2017-05-0116096381ND
2017-05-0116096360ND
2017-05-0116096297ND
2017-05-0116096465ND
2017-05-0116096318ND
2017-05-0116096444ND
2017-05-0116096423ND
2017-05-0116096339ND
2017-05-0116096402ND
2017-06-0616259066ND
2017-09-0516728666ND
2017-12-0517163828ND
2018-03-1220180936ND
2018-03-1220180937ND
2018-03-1220180935ND
2018-03-1220180938ND
2018-03-1220180934ND
2018-03-1220180939ND
2018-03-1220180933ND
2018-03-1220180940ND
2018-03-1220180932ND
2018-03-1320180956ND
2018-06-0520182148ND
2018-09-0420183373ND
2018-12-1820184775ND
2019-03-0520190857ND
2019-03-1220190961ND
2019-03-1220190960ND
2019-03-1220190962ND
2019-03-1220190959ND
2019-03-1220190963ND
2019-03-1220190958ND
2019-03-1220190964ND
2019-03-1220190957ND
2019-03-1220190956ND
2019-09-0320193443ND
2019-12-0320194748ND