Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

North Hunt Special Utility District

NOTE: North Hunt Special Utility District purchases water from City of Commerce which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Commerce.

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

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: North Hunt Special Utility District purchases water from City of Commerce which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Commerce.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-02-14Q1806236001ND
2018-06-04Q1822047005ND
2019-02-21Q1907743003ND
2019-02-21Q1907743004ND
2020-05-07Q2018051005ND
2020-08-04Q2030361001ND
2021-01-27Q2102032003ND
2021-01-27Q2102032005ND
2022-02-10Q2204939002ND
2022-10-26Q2232338003ND
2023-02-15Q2306243003ND
2023-02-15Q2306243005ND