Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Aubrey

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.

 

28

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
2023ND70ND

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
2018-03-15Q1810837004ND
2018-03-15Q1810837006ND
2018-03-15Q1810837008ND
2018-03-15Q1810837002ND
2019-05-15Q1926233001ND
2019-05-15Q1926233003ND
2019-05-15Q1926233005ND
2019-05-15Q1926233007ND
2020-03-26Q2012850003ND
2020-05-18Q2019651001ND
2020-10-05Q2038828008ND
2020-10-05Q2038828010ND
2020-10-05Q2038828012ND
2021-07-01Q2117370014ND
2021-07-01Q2117370018ND
2021-07-01Q2117370016ND
2021-07-01Q2117370012ND
2022-10-13Q2231065002ND
2022-10-13Q2231065004ND
2022-10-13Q2231065006ND
2022-10-13Q2231065008ND
2023-04-11Q2313300012ND
2023-09-26Q2341271006ND
2023-09-26Q2341271008ND
2023-09-26Q2341271010ND
2023-09-26Q2341271012ND
2023-09-26Q2341271037ND
2023-11-14Q2348752005ND