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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Emmaus Borough Public Water

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

 

107

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND200ND
2015ND200ND
2016ND200ND
2017ND200ND
2018ND130ND
2019ND140ND

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
2014-02-26140008220ND
2014-02-26140008221ND
2014-02-26140008222ND
2014-02-26140008223ND
2014-02-26140008217ND
2014-02-26140008218ND
2014-02-26140008219ND
2014-02-26140008216ND
2014-05-27140021794ND
2014-05-27140021791ND
2014-05-27140021792ND
2014-05-27140021790ND
2014-08-28140038937ND
2014-08-28140038934ND
2014-08-28140038935ND
2014-08-28140038933ND
2014-11-25140053580ND
2014-11-25140053577ND
2014-11-25140053578ND
2014-11-25140053576ND
2015-02-2412434973ND
2015-02-2412434995ND
2015-02-2412435016ND
2015-02-2412435037ND
2015-02-2412434907ND
2015-02-2412434928ND
2015-02-2412434950ND
2015-02-2412434886ND
2015-05-2712788722ND
2015-05-2712788669ND
2015-05-2712788691ND
2015-05-2712788648ND
2015-08-2613301781ND
2015-08-2613301735ND
2015-08-2613301756ND
2015-08-2613301714ND
2015-11-2313548703ND
2015-11-2313548567ND
2015-11-2313548590ND
2015-11-2313548546ND
2016-03-0714020483ND
2016-03-0714020505ND
2016-03-0714020526ND
2016-03-0714020547ND
2016-03-0714020416ND
2016-03-0714020437ND
2016-03-0714020458ND
2016-03-0714020395ND
2016-05-2414296589ND
2016-05-2414296561ND
2016-05-2414618844ND
2016-05-2414296542ND
2016-08-3014785488ND
2016-08-3014785434ND
2016-08-3014785462ND
2016-08-3014785426ND
2016-11-1715267409ND
2016-11-1715267364ND
2016-11-1715267387ND
2016-11-1715267349ND
2017-03-0715836159ND
2017-03-0715836164ND
2017-03-0715836165ND
2017-03-0715836166ND
2017-03-0715836160ND
2017-03-0715836161ND
2017-03-0715836162ND
2017-03-0715836163ND
2017-05-2416142647ND
2017-05-2416142648ND
2017-05-2416142649ND
2017-05-2416142650ND
2017-08-3116612362ND
2017-08-3116612363ND
2017-08-3116612364ND
2017-08-3116612365ND
2017-11-0917345814ND
2017-11-0917345815ND
2017-11-0917345816ND
2017-11-0917345817ND
2018-03-088003525-02ND
2018-03-088003525-03ND
2018-03-088003525-04ND
2018-03-088003525-01ND
2018-05-018001201-01ND
2018-05-018001201-02ND
2018-05-018001201-03ND
2018-08-038003166-01ND
2018-08-038003166-02ND
2018-08-038003166-03ND
2018-11-018030989-01ND
2018-11-018030989-02ND
2018-11-018030989-03ND
2019-02-119001168-02ND
2019-02-119001168-03ND
2019-02-119001168-04ND
2019-02-119001168-01ND
2019-04-189009850-01ND
2019-04-189009850-02ND
2019-04-189009850-03ND
2019-07-189020517-01REND
2019-07-189020517-02REND
2019-07-189020517-03REND
2019-11-049035700-01ND
2019-11-049035700-02ND
2019-11-049035700-03ND
2019-11-049035700-05ND