Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District 46

NOTE: Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District 46 purchases water from City of Missouri City Mustang Bayou Wate which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Missouri City Mustang Bayou Wate.

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.

 

14

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

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

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: Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District 46 purchases water from City of Missouri City Mustang Bayou Wate which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Missouri City Mustang Bayou Wate.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-02-28AE16057ND
2018-05-01AE24603ND
2018-05-01AE24605ND
2019-04-18AE62975ND
2019-04-18AE62979ND
2020-07-16AF19725ND
2020-08-06AF22303ND
2021-02-26AF44660ND
2021-02-26AF44664ND
2021-05-12AF53542ND
2022-05-17AF97264ND
2022-05-17AF97270ND
2023-05-04AG39379ND
2023-05-04AG39383ND