Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Two Way Special Utility District

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.

 

34

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND60ND
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
2018-06-25Q1825251009ND
2018-06-25Q1825251011ND
2018-06-25Q1825251014ND
2018-06-25Q1825251017ND
2018-06-25Q1825251024ND
2018-06-25Q1825251008ND
2019-10-14Q1972459011ND
2019-10-14Q1972459009ND
2019-10-14Q1972459007ND
2019-10-14Q1972459005ND
2019-10-14Q1972459003ND
2019-12-11Q1979771004ND
2020-08-25Q2034116003ND
2020-10-12Q2039772007ND
2020-10-12Q2039772009ND
2020-10-12Q2039772011ND
2020-10-12Q2039772013ND
2021-11-09Q2131341012ND
2021-11-09Q2131341022ND
2021-11-09Q2131341020ND
2021-11-09Q2131341018ND
2021-11-09Q2131341016ND
2021-11-09Q2131341014ND
2022-10-11Q2230663004ND
2022-10-11Q2230663006ND
2022-10-11Q2230663008ND
2022-10-11Q2230663012ND
2022-10-11Q2230663014ND
2022-12-06Q2236335001ND
2023-07-24Q2329218001ND
2023-10-31Q2346526005ND
2023-10-31Q2346526007ND
2023-10-31Q2346526009ND
2023-10-31Q2346526011ND