Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Frost

NOTE: City of Frost purchases water from City of Corsicana which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Corsicana.

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND10ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND10ND

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

NOTE: City of Frost purchases water from City of Corsicana which is required to test for styrene. Sample information shown below was taken by City of Corsicana.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-07-17Q1828588001ND
2018-07-17Q1828588004ND
2019-07-29Q1948665001ND
2019-09-24Q1968203001ND
2020-09-16Q2037149001ND
2020-09-24Q2037862001ND
2021-07-14Q2118452001ND
2021-09-16Q2125446001ND
2022-08-23Q2224990001ND
2022-08-23Q2224990003ND
2023-07-31Q2330841001ND
2023-07-31Q2330841003ND