Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Zavalla

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.

 

48

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND80ND
2019ND80ND
2020ND80ND
2021ND80ND
2022ND80ND
2023ND80ND

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
2018-02-12Q1805619003ND
2018-02-12Q1805619002ND
2018-05-17Q1820210003ND
2018-05-17Q1820210002ND
2018-08-15Q1832965003ND
2018-08-15Q1832965004ND
2018-12-03Q1849018002ND
2018-12-11Q1850895002ND
2019-02-11Q1906018001ND
2019-02-11Q1906018003ND
2019-04-29Q1917248002ND
2019-04-29Q1917248005ND
2019-08-21Q1957739003ND
2019-08-21Q1957739001ND
2019-11-05Q1975066001ND
2019-11-05Q1975066003ND
2020-01-22Q2002509006ND
2020-03-09Q2008888003ND
2020-04-08Q2014238001ND
2020-04-08Q2014238003ND
2020-07-14Q2027691001ND
2020-07-14Q2027691003ND
2020-10-07Q2039302001ND
2020-10-07Q2039302003ND
2021-01-12Q2100808004ND
2021-01-12Q2100808006ND
2021-04-08Q2109000003ND
2021-04-08Q2109000005ND
2021-07-28Q2119706001ND
2021-07-28Q2119706003ND
2021-10-05Q2127299001ND
2021-10-05Q2127299003ND
2022-01-05Q2200291013ND
2022-01-05Q2200291015ND
2022-04-05Q2210426001ND
2022-04-05Q2210426003ND
2022-07-08Q2219195002ND
2022-07-08Q2219195004ND
2022-10-04Q2229747001ND
2022-10-04Q2229747003ND
2023-01-09Q2300803004ND
2023-01-09Q2300803006ND
2023-05-15Q2318263003ND
2023-05-15Q2318263005ND
2023-08-07Q2332144003ND
2023-08-07Q2332144005ND
2023-10-10Q2343134001ND
2023-10-10Q2343134003ND