Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Pilot Point

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.

 

46

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND90ND
2020ND100ND
2021ND70ND
2022ND70ND
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
2018-03-15Q1810838004ND
2018-03-15Q1810838002ND
2018-03-15Q1810838011ND
2018-03-15Q1810838009ND
2018-03-15Q1810838005ND
2018-03-15Q1810838007ND
2019-04-02Q1913162001ND
2019-04-02Q1913162006ND
2019-04-02Q1913162009ND
2019-04-02Q1913162017ND
2019-04-02Q1913162020ND
2019-05-30Q1930236002ND
2019-05-30Q1930236010ND
2019-08-08Q1953061005ND
2019-10-24Q1973669004ND
2020-01-16Q2001732011ND
2020-01-16Q2001732013ND
2020-01-16Q2001732015ND
2020-01-16Q2001732017ND
2020-01-16Q2001732019ND
2020-01-16Q2001732021ND
2020-05-11Q2018213003ND
2020-05-11Q2018213005ND
2020-08-04Q2030357001ND
2020-12-15Q2049691001ND
2021-11-09Q2131343006ND
2021-11-09Q2131343015ND
2021-11-09Q2131343017ND
2021-11-09Q2131343019ND
2021-11-09Q2131343021ND
2021-11-09Q2131343023ND
2021-11-09Q2131343025ND
2022-06-21Q2217164006ND
2022-06-21Q2217164008ND
2022-10-13Q2231068004ND
2022-10-13Q2231068010ND
2022-10-13Q2231068008ND
2022-10-13Q2231068006ND
2022-10-13Q2231068002ND
2023-08-16Q2334321016ND
2023-08-16Q2334321018ND
2023-08-16Q2334321020ND
2023-11-06Q2347478007ND
2023-11-06Q2347478009ND
2023-11-06Q2347478011ND
2023-11-06Q2347478013ND