Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Hallettsville

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.

 

20

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
2021ND50ND
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
2018-09-19AE40773ND
2018-09-19AE40775ND
2018-09-19AE40759ND
2019-08-22AE80240ND
2019-08-22AE80242ND
2019-08-22AE80246ND
2020-05-19AF11753ND
2020-05-19AF11755ND
2020-05-19AF11757ND
2021-06-10AF57493ND
2021-06-10AF57525ND
2021-06-10AF57491ND
2021-07-27AF63450ND
2021-11-03AF75593ND
2022-08-04AG07869ND
2022-08-04AG07873ND
2022-08-04AG07875ND
2023-03-06Q2309810001ND
2023-03-06Q2309810003ND
2023-03-06Q2309810005ND