Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Idalou

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.

 

49

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND70ND
2019ND70ND
2020ND80ND
2021ND70ND
2022ND100ND
2023ND100ND

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
2018-03-21Q1811486005ND
2018-03-21Q1811486001ND
2018-04-26Q1816940005ND
2018-04-26Q1816940004ND
2018-08-02Q1830692001ND
2018-10-25Q1842795003ND
2018-11-29Q1848727002ND
2019-01-30Q1904476005ND
2019-04-10Q1914418002ND
2019-04-10Q1914418004ND
2019-04-10Q1914418007ND
2019-09-11Q1963950002ND
2019-09-11Q1963950005ND
2019-10-31Q1974682001ND
2020-03-11Q2010310003ND
2020-03-11Q2010310005ND
2020-03-11Q2010310007ND
2020-06-09Q2023125005ND
2020-06-09Q2023125007ND
2020-08-12Q2032147003ND
2020-08-12Q2032147009ND
2020-11-16Q2044877001ND
2021-02-23Q2104560001ND
2021-02-23Q2104560003ND
2021-06-03Q2114442002ND
2021-06-03Q2114442004ND
2021-08-30Q2123495001ND
2021-08-30Q2123495003ND
2021-11-18Q2132365001ND
2022-02-16Q2205704005ND
2022-02-16Q2205704007ND
2022-04-28Q2212815004ND
2022-04-28Q2212815006ND
2022-04-28Q2212815008ND
2022-04-28Q2212815010ND
2022-08-24Q2225163003ND
2022-08-24Q2225163005ND
2022-12-05Q2236043003ND
2022-12-05Q2236043005ND
2023-02-15Q2306278004ND
2023-02-15Q2306278006ND
2023-04-25Q2315530007ND
2023-04-25Q2315530009ND
2023-04-25Q2315530011ND
2023-07-26Q2329823002ND
2023-07-26Q2329823004ND
2023-07-26Q2329823006ND
2023-12-06Q2352155001ND
2023-12-06Q2352155003ND