Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Amicks Ferry Water System

NOTE: Amicks Ferry Water System purchases water from City of Columbia which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Columbia.

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

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

NOTE: Amicks Ferry Water System purchases water from City of Columbia which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Columbia.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-03-12AE09073ND
2018-07-16AE15003ND
2019-01-08AE23570ND
2019-07-16AE33661ND
2020-10-14AE55739ND
2020-11-04AE56846ND
2021-10-19AE73590ND
2021-10-20AE73703ND
2022-09-08AE89410ND
2022-09-19AE89796ND
2023-09-06AF08032ND
2023-09-21AF08856ND