Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Town of Annetta Deer Creek

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.

 

50

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND70ND
2019ND70ND
2020ND90ND
2021ND110ND
2022ND80ND
2023ND80ND

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
2018-08-06Q1830996007ND
2018-08-06Q1830996002ND
2018-08-06Q1830996012ND
2018-08-06Q1830996009ND
2018-12-03Q1849051001ND
2018-12-03Q1849051006ND
2018-12-03Q1849051007ND
2019-06-03Q1930677005ND
2019-06-03Q1930677007ND
2019-06-03Q1930677009ND
2019-06-03Q1930677011ND
2019-06-03Q1930677013ND
2019-06-03Q1930677015ND
2019-06-03Q1930677017ND
2020-01-30Q2003934003ND
2020-04-21Q2015803014ND
2020-04-21Q2015803016ND
2020-04-21Q2015803018ND
2020-04-21Q2015803020ND
2020-04-21Q2015803022ND
2020-04-21Q2015803024ND
2020-08-27Q2034434007ND
2020-10-14Q2040327003ND
2021-02-01Q2102857014ND
2021-02-01Q2102857012ND
2021-02-01Q2102857008ND
2021-02-01Q2102857006ND
2021-02-01Q2102857004ND
2021-02-01Q2102857010ND
2021-04-22Q2110415004ND
2021-04-22Q2110415008ND
2021-05-24Q2113349001ND
2021-05-24Q2113349003ND
2021-08-10Q2121189001ND
2022-02-07Q2204015003ND
2022-03-10Q2208362003ND
2022-03-10Q2208362005ND
2022-03-10Q2208362007ND
2022-11-17Q2234711008ND
2022-11-17Q2234711014ND
2022-11-17Q2234711012ND
2022-11-17Q2234711010ND
2023-11-08Q2348107011ND
2023-11-08Q2348107013ND
2023-11-08Q2348107015ND
2023-11-08Q2348107017ND
2023-11-08Q2348107019ND
2023-11-08Q2348107021ND
2023-11-08Q2348107055ND
2023-11-08Q2348107057ND