Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Linden

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.

 

22

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
2022ND30ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-01-03Q1800198003ND
2018-04-04Q1814029002ND
2018-04-04Q1814029005ND
2018-04-04Q1814029010ND
2019-05-02Q1918234001ND
2019-05-02Q1918234003ND
2019-05-02Q1918234005ND
2019-05-02Q1918234007ND
2020-04-22Q2016067005ND
2020-04-22Q2016067007ND
2020-10-22Q2041220007ND
2020-10-22Q2041220005ND
2021-01-25Q2101630002ND
2021-01-25Q2101630004ND
2021-01-25Q2101630006ND
2021-01-25Q2101630008ND
2022-02-08Q2204277003ND
2022-11-16Q2234545001ND
2022-11-16Q2234545003ND
2023-02-13Q2305588004ND
2023-08-22Q2335447002ND
2023-10-24Q2345776004ND