Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Mustang Valley 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.

 

31

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND60ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND50ND

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
2018-02-20Q1806881002ND
2018-11-28Q1848373003ND
2018-11-28Q1848373005ND
2018-11-28Q1848373006ND
2018-11-28Q1848373008ND
2019-03-13Q1910654001ND
2019-03-13Q1910654005ND
2019-03-13Q1910654009ND
2019-03-13Q1910654013ND
2019-09-11Q1964031002ND
2020-06-10Q2023470003ND
2020-08-26Q2034243038ND
2020-08-26Q2034243029ND
2020-08-26Q2034243019ND
2020-08-26Q2034243011ND
2020-08-26Q2034243027ND
2021-07-28Q2119759001ND
2021-07-28Q2119759006ND
2021-07-28Q2119759008ND
2021-07-28Q2119759010ND
2021-07-28Q2119759012ND
2022-10-12Q2230979013ND
2022-10-12Q2230979019ND
2022-10-12Q2230979017ND
2022-10-12Q2230979015ND
2022-10-12Q2230979002ND
2023-07-24Q2329212003ND
2023-07-24Q2329212017ND
2023-10-31Q2346536005ND
2023-10-31Q2346536007ND
2023-10-31Q2346536009ND