Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Rusk

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
2020ND50ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND40ND
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
2018-03-21Q1811395006ND
2018-03-21Q1811395010ND
2018-03-21Q1811395014ND
2018-03-21Q1811395001ND
2019-10-09Q1972207001ND
2019-10-09Q1972207003ND
2019-10-09Q1972207005ND
2019-10-09Q1972207007ND
2020-10-01Q2038626020ND
2020-10-01Q2038626022ND
2020-10-01Q2038626024ND
2020-10-01Q2038626026ND
2020-11-19Q2046158001ND
2021-11-02Q2130691005ND
2021-11-02Q2130691011ND
2021-11-02Q2130691009ND
2021-11-02Q2130691007ND
2022-10-24Q2231983010ND
2022-10-24Q2231983012ND
2022-10-24Q2231983014ND
2022-10-24Q2231983016ND
2023-06-28Q2325031005ND
2023-06-28Q2325031007ND
2023-06-28Q2325031009ND
2023-06-28Q2325031011ND
2023-09-11Q2338755002ND