Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Brady Water System

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.

 

23

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND70ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND50ND
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

Date Lab ID Result
2018-02-20AE14781ND
2018-02-20AE14767ND
2018-08-01AE35602ND
2019-02-20AE55314ND
2019-02-20AE55316ND
2019-02-20AE55320ND
2019-02-20AE55322ND
2019-04-15AE62548ND
2019-04-15AE62550ND
2019-07-15AE74670ND
2020-02-26AF00264ND
2020-02-26AF00268ND
2020-02-26AF00262ND
2021-01-13AF39504ND
2021-01-13AF39520ND
2021-01-13AF39530ND
2022-06-14AG00840ND
2022-06-14AG00842ND
2022-06-14AG00844ND
2022-08-04AG07863ND
2022-08-04AG07865ND
2023-01-19AG25278ND
2023-01-19AG25284ND