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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

46

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND50ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND70ND
2017ND70ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND70ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-03-13Q1408243010ND
2014-06-17Q1421629004ND
2014-06-17Q1421629006ND
2014-09-18Q1445932006ND
2014-12-16Q1460431001ND
2015-03-25Q1511064012ND
2015-03-25Q1511064010ND
2015-03-25Q1511064008ND
2015-03-25Q1511064002ND
2015-06-23Q1523309001ND
2015-09-09Q1534947007ND
2015-09-09Q1534947001ND
2015-09-09Q1534947004ND
2015-09-09Q1534947005ND
2015-11-18Q1545682007ND
2015-11-18Q1545682006ND
2015-11-18Q1545682003ND
2015-11-18Q1545682002ND
2016-03-08Q1609690004ND
2016-03-08Q1609690002ND
2016-06-08Q1622881004ND
2016-06-08Q1622881002ND
2016-09-08Q1636371004ND
2016-09-08Q1636371001ND
2016-12-13Q1654189002ND
2017-03-14Q1710443001ND
2017-06-07Q1724059002ND
2017-07-25Q1730586001ND
2017-07-25Q1730586009ND
2017-10-12Q1752321004ND
2017-10-12Q1752321003ND
2017-10-25Q1755075001ND
2018-03-21Q1811486005ND
2018-03-21Q1811486001ND
2018-04-26Q1816940004ND
2018-04-26Q1816940005ND
2018-08-02Q1830692001ND
2018-10-25Q1842795003ND
2018-11-29Q1848727002ND
2019-01-30Q1904476005ND
2019-04-10Q1914418007ND
2019-04-10Q1914418004ND
2019-04-10Q1914418002ND
2019-09-11Q1963950002ND
2019-09-11Q1963950005ND
2019-10-31Q1974682001ND