Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

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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
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-02-27AE08318ND
2018-06-14AE13735ND
2018-09-05AE17680ND
2018-11-14AE21351ND
2019-03-07AE26871ND
2019-05-06AE29805ND
2019-08-06AE34770ND
2019-11-13AE40149ND
2020-03-12AE46094ND
2020-05-27AE49082ND
2020-07-22AE51792ND
2020-11-30AE58081ND
2021-03-11AE62653ND
2021-06-16AE67542ND
2021-09-21AE72334ND
2021-11-30AE75646ND
2022-02-23AE79542ND
2022-06-01AE84526ND
2022-09-14AE89724ND
2022-11-29AE93463ND
2023-01-24AE95948ND
2023-04-18AF00390ND
2023-07-18AF05696ND
2023-10-17AF10285ND