Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Fayette Water Supply Corporation West

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.

 

31

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND50ND

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
2018-03-06AE16964ND
2018-03-06AE16972ND
2018-03-06AE16974ND
2018-03-06AE16960ND
2018-04-24AE23735ND
2018-04-24AE23739ND
2019-03-19AE59043ND
2019-03-19AE59045ND
2019-03-19AE59047ND
2019-03-19AE59049ND
2019-03-19AE59053ND
2020-02-12AE98164ND
2020-02-12AE98168ND
2020-02-12AE98170ND
2020-04-13AF06401ND
2020-07-08AF18616ND
2021-03-08AF45674ND
2021-03-08AF45678ND
2021-04-28AF51530ND
2021-04-28AF51532ND
2021-04-28AF51534ND
2022-02-14AF84596ND
2022-05-31AF98824ND
2022-05-31AF98826ND
2022-10-12AG16849ND
2022-10-12AG16863ND
2023-03-09Q2309600001ND
2023-03-09Q2309600003ND
2023-03-09Q2309600005ND
2023-04-04AG35371ND
2023-04-04AG35379ND