Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Justin

NOTE: City of Justin purchases water from Utrwd Regional Water Treatment Plant which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by Utrwd Regional Water Treatment Plant.

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

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

NOTE: City of Justin purchases water from Utrwd Regional Water Treatment Plant which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by Utrwd Regional Water Treatment Plant.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-09-13Q1836570001ND
2018-09-25Q1838256005ND
2019-09-26Q1969362002ND
2019-09-27Q1970279005ND
2020-08-18Q2032859002ND
2020-08-18Q2032859004ND
2021-09-27Q2126305003ND
2021-09-27Q2126305005ND
2022-09-15Q2227673003ND
2022-09-15Q2227673005ND
2023-08-02Q2331445001ND
2023-08-02Q2331445003ND