Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Encinal Water Supply Corporation

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.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND60ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND30ND
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
2018-07-19AE33973ND
2018-07-19AE33965ND
2019-09-26AE84864ND
2019-12-11AE92154ND
2020-03-24AF04315ND
2020-03-24AF04317ND
2020-03-24AF04319ND
2020-06-08AF14872ND
2020-07-20AF19932ND
2020-12-10AF37297ND
2021-08-04AF64835ND
2021-08-04AF64837ND
2021-12-22AF79284ND
2022-09-29AG15510ND
2022-09-29AG15512ND
2022-09-29AG15514ND
2023-09-14AG56310ND
2023-09-14AG56314ND
2023-09-14AG56318ND