Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

B C Y Water Supply Corporation

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.

 

26

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
2023ND60ND

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
2018-06-21Q1824846011ND
2018-06-21Q1824846013ND
2018-06-21Q1824846016ND
2018-06-21Q1824846005ND
2019-03-13Q1910550001ND
2019-03-13Q1910550005ND
2019-03-13Q1910550010ND
2019-03-13Q1910550014ND
2020-02-10Q2005314011ND
2020-02-10Q2005314013ND
2020-02-10Q2005314015ND
2020-03-02Q2007756011ND
2021-09-21Q2125818005ND
2021-09-21Q2125818011ND
2021-09-21Q2125818007ND
2021-09-21Q2125818003ND
2022-10-27Q2232551010ND
2022-10-27Q2232551012ND
2022-10-27Q2232551014ND
2022-10-27Q2232551016ND
2023-01-10Q2301214003ND
2023-01-10Q2301214005ND
2023-05-01Q2316259005ND
2023-05-01Q2316259007ND
2023-05-01Q2316259009ND
2023-11-13Q2348410003ND