Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

West Gregg 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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND50ND
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

Date Lab ID Result
2018-09-13Q1836486004ND
2018-09-13Q1836486002ND
2018-12-05Q1849734003ND
2019-02-14Q1906942006ND
2019-02-14Q1906942010ND
2019-03-28Q1912650001ND
2019-03-28Q1912650003ND
2020-01-09Q2000956014ND
2020-01-09Q2000956016ND
2020-01-09Q2000956018ND
2021-06-15Q2115566006ND
2021-06-15Q2115566008ND
2021-06-15Q2115566004ND
2022-03-14Q2208516003ND
2022-08-17Q2224332010ND
2022-08-17Q2224332012ND
2022-08-17Q2224332014ND
2022-12-08Q2237012003ND
2023-03-07Q2308919006ND
2023-03-07Q2308919008ND
2023-03-07Q2308919010ND
2023-07-19Q2328453002ND