Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Buena Vista Bethel Special Utility District

NOTE: Buena Vista Bethel Special Utility District purchases water from City of Waxahachie which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Waxahachie.

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
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

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: Buena Vista Bethel Special Utility District purchases water from City of Waxahachie which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Waxahachie.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-25Q1802982010ND
2018-08-13Q1832216003ND
2019-04-29Q1916965011ND
2019-07-25Q1947719001ND
2020-08-17Q2032738017ND
2020-08-17Q2032738019ND
2021-09-16Q2125453010ND
2021-09-16Q2125453012ND
2022-01-12Q2201052009ND
2022-08-16Q2224047002ND
2023-09-05Q2338122002ND
2023-11-20Q2349758003ND