Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Chandler

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.

 

29

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND40ND
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
2018-05-31Q1821776006ND
2018-05-31Q1821776002ND
2018-10-15Q1840931002ND
2018-10-15Q1840931004ND
2018-10-15Q1840931006ND
2019-03-19Q1911348006ND
2019-03-19Q1911348009ND
2019-03-19Q1911348011ND
2019-03-19Q1911348012ND
2019-09-11Q1963871003ND
2020-03-24Q2012436007ND
2020-03-24Q2012436009ND
2020-03-24Q2012436011ND
2020-06-23Q2025085009ND
2021-05-04Q2111316005ND
2021-05-04Q2111316011ND
2021-05-04Q2111316009ND
2021-05-04Q2111316007ND
2021-12-15Q2135508002ND
2022-03-31Q2210090007ND
2022-03-31Q2210090009ND
2022-03-31Q2210090011ND
2022-03-31Q2210090013ND
2022-03-31Q2210090015ND
2023-01-12Q2301951016ND
2023-01-12Q2301951018ND
2023-01-12Q2301951020ND
2023-10-02Q2342088004ND
2023-10-02Q2342088006ND