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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Penn State Univ.

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

 

71

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND140ND
2015ND70ND
2016ND240ND
2017ND130ND
2018ND90ND
2019ND40ND

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
2014-01-234A23025-06ND
2014-01-234A23025-07ND
2014-01-234A23033-06ND
2014-02-204B20042-07ND
2014-02-204B20042-06ND
2014-02-204B20041-07ND
2014-03-114C11016-07ND
2014-03-114C11027-07ND
2014-03-114C11016-06ND
2014-04-094D09031-01ND
2014-04-094D09037-01ND
2014-04-094D09036-01ND
2014-06-114F11107-04ND
2014-06-114F11107-05ND
2015-01-2113561280ND
2015-11-1113561217ND
2015-11-1113561169ND
2015-11-1113561193ND
2015-12-1013681497ND
2015-12-1013681522ND
2015-12-1013681496ND
2016-02-2313917122ND
2016-02-2313917075ND
2016-02-2313917121ND
2016-03-1614032211ND
2016-03-1614032234ND
2016-03-1614032188ND
2016-04-2014163607ND
2016-04-2014163608ND
2016-04-2014163561ND
2016-05-1814312915ND
2016-05-1814312916ND
2016-05-1814312941ND
2016-06-2114471240ND
2016-06-2114471241ND
2016-06-2114471267ND
2016-07-1914636483ND
2016-07-1914636482ND
2016-07-1914636434ND
2016-08-2314804516ND
2016-08-2314804491ND
2016-08-2314804541ND
2016-09-2814975899ND
2016-09-2814975898ND
2016-09-2814975925ND
2017-01-1715573255ND
2017-01-1715573254ND
2017-01-1815573207ND
2017-02-2315709668ND
2017-02-2315709667ND
2017-03-2315850711ND
2017-03-2815850839ND
2017-04-1816001598ND
2017-04-1816001597ND
2017-07-1216473298ND
2017-08-0316629373ND
2017-10-3116937436ND
2017-11-3017077375ND
2018-01-318A31018-01ND
2018-02-208B21092-08ND
2018-02-228B23070-07ND
2018-04-118D12138-07ND
2018-04-268D27100-10ND
2018-06-018F01151-05ND
2018-07-118G12180-04ND
2018-08-018H02080-01ND
2018-10-048J05241-01ND
2019-02-219B22087-01ND
2019-05-099E13165-01ND
2019-08-149H15241-01ND
2019-10-249J28033-01ND