Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Patton Village West 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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND10ND
2020ND70ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND60ND
2023ND70ND

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
2018-09-19AE40721ND
2019-12-02AE90828ND
2020-07-30AF21391ND
2020-07-30AF21395ND
2020-07-30AF21433ND
2020-07-30AF21435ND
2020-10-05AF29481ND
2020-10-05AF29483ND
2020-10-05AF29485ND
2021-01-12AF38828ND
2021-01-12AF38834ND
2021-05-07AF52999ND
2022-06-06AF99677ND
2022-06-06AF99679ND
2022-08-10AG08612ND
2022-08-10AG08614ND
2022-10-18AG17490ND
2022-12-05AG20720ND
2023-01-10AG23727ND
2023-01-10AG23741ND
2023-01-10AG23747ND
2023-04-03AG35153ND
2023-05-10AG40025ND
2023-07-14AG48828ND
2023-10-26AG61269ND