Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Hastings Homeowners Water System

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.

 

23

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
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
2018-06-13AE29840ND
2018-08-13AE36682ND
2018-11-16AE46488ND
2019-01-25AE51674ND
2019-04-25AE63712ND
2019-09-26AE84884ND
2019-11-20AE89974ND
2020-01-16AE94002ND
2020-04-07AF05908ND
2020-09-03AF26510ND
2020-11-09AF33747ND
2021-03-24AF48009ND
2021-04-15AF50378ND
2021-08-06AF65399ND
2021-10-05AF72291ND
2022-02-15AF84928ND
2022-04-28AF94857ND
2022-07-25AG06131ND
2022-11-29AG20066ND
2023-01-10AG23781ND
2023-04-17AG36923ND
2023-09-12AG56046ND
2023-10-03AG58258ND