Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Rochester

NOTE: City of Rochester purchases water from North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority.

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.

 

26

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: City of Rochester purchases water from North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-02-13Q1806366023ND
2018-02-13Q1806366017ND
2018-05-15Q1819778005ND
2018-09-10Q1835655007ND
2019-09-10Q1963432002ND
2019-09-10Q1963432004ND
2019-09-10Q1963432006ND
2019-09-10Q1963432008ND
2020-05-26Q2020617010ND
2020-05-26Q2020617012ND
2020-05-26Q2020617014ND
2020-09-15Q2036511001ND
2021-03-01Q2105128004ND
2021-03-01Q2105128002ND
2021-05-18Q2112967013ND
2021-08-24Q2122978005ND
2021-08-24Q2122978013ND
2021-12-09Q2134685004ND
2022-03-02Q2207242006ND
2022-03-02Q2207242008ND
2022-03-02Q2207242010ND
2022-09-07Q2226614008ND
2023-03-08Q2309188005ND
2023-05-16Q2318416003ND
2023-05-16Q2318416005ND
2023-09-05Q2338005004ND