Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Montmorenci Water District

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.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-02-27AE08322ND
2018-05-23AE12655ND
2018-08-22AE17063ND
2018-11-13AE21220ND
2019-02-20AE26033ND
2019-04-30AE29543ND
2019-08-27AE36167ND
2019-11-05AE39706ND
2020-01-14AE42850ND
2020-04-08AE47044ND
2020-08-25AE53392ND
2020-10-07AE55472ND
2021-02-03AE60574ND
2021-04-07AE63774ND
2021-08-25AE71041ND
2021-11-09AE74852ND
2022-02-23AE79524ND
2022-04-07AE81832ND
2022-04-07AE81833ND
2022-08-24AE88862ND
2022-11-02AE92454ND
2023-02-01AE96329ND
2023-04-05AE99712ND
2023-10-04AF09676ND