Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Foxbane Combined Ws

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.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND20ND
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
2018-06-19Q1824692011ND
2018-06-19Q1824692012ND
2018-06-19Q1824692002ND
2018-12-13Q1851540002ND
2019-07-09Q1942896001ND
2019-07-09Q1942896003ND
2019-07-09Q1942896005ND
2019-07-09Q1942896007ND
2020-12-17Q2050032010ND
2020-12-17Q2050032012ND
2020-12-17Q2050032008ND
2021-08-04Q2120481005ND
2021-08-04Q2120481007ND
2022-10-26Q2232465006ND
2022-10-26Q2232465008ND
2022-10-26Q2232465012ND
2023-05-30Q2319950003ND
2023-05-30Q2319950005ND
2023-05-30Q2319950007ND