Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Naples

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.

 

33

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND90ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND60ND

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
2018-03-15Q1810680005ND
2018-03-15Q1810680007ND
2018-03-15Q1810680009ND
2018-03-15Q1810680012ND
2018-03-15Q1810680003ND
2019-08-15Q1955907002ND
2019-08-15Q1955907004ND
2019-08-15Q1955907006ND
2020-02-19Q2006446001ND
2020-02-19Q2006446003ND
2020-05-11Q2018218001ND
2020-05-11Q2018218003ND
2020-05-11Q2018218005ND
2020-05-11Q2018218007ND
2020-09-21Q2037373001ND
2020-12-03Q2048484003ND
2020-12-03Q2048484001ND
2021-07-28Q2119749011ND
2021-07-28Q2119749013ND
2021-07-28Q2119749015ND
2021-07-28Q2119749017ND
2021-07-28Q2119749019ND
2021-10-05Q2127603001ND
2022-02-08Q2204273002ND
2022-06-14Q2216505001ND
2022-06-14Q2216505003ND
2022-11-15Q2234252003ND
2023-03-06Q2308676001ND
2023-06-15Q2322780003ND
2023-06-15Q2322780011ND
2023-06-15Q2322780013ND
2023-09-18Q2339834001ND
2023-12-07Q2352322001ND