Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Westwood Beach

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.

 

23

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND70ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-10-10Q1840455006ND
2018-10-10Q1840455012ND
2018-10-10Q1840455005ND
2019-06-13Q1935800008ND
2019-06-13Q1935800010ND
2019-06-13Q1935800012ND
2020-05-14Q2019532007ND
2020-05-14Q2019532009ND
2020-05-14Q2019532011ND
2021-05-13Q2112500012ND
2021-05-13Q2112500010ND
2021-05-13Q2112500001ND
2021-07-20Q2118896001ND
2021-07-20Q2118896003ND
2021-12-15Q2135518001ND
2021-12-15Q2135518003ND
2022-07-26Q2221164001ND
2022-07-26Q2221164003ND
2022-07-26Q2221164005ND
2022-12-05Q2236047001ND
2023-02-28Q2307933002ND
2023-10-02Q2342089004ND
2023-10-02Q2342089006ND