Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Friona Municipal 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.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

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

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
2018-01-16Q1801773012ND
2018-01-16Q1801773005ND
2018-04-10Q1814553005ND
2018-07-30Q1830046007ND
2019-01-17Q1902751001ND
2019-01-17Q1902751004ND
2019-04-23Q1916176007ND
2019-07-08Q1942259004ND
2020-01-15Q2001626005ND
2020-01-15Q2001626007ND
2020-04-07Q2013983007ND
2020-04-07Q2013983011ND
2021-01-13Q2100884009ND
2021-01-13Q2100884011ND
2021-04-08Q2109054004ND
2021-07-14Q2118506004ND
2022-01-11Q2200809003ND
2022-04-04Q2210233001ND
2022-07-12Q2219520001ND
2023-02-16Q2306631004ND
2023-04-11Q2313274004ND
2023-04-11Q2313274010ND
2023-07-11Q2326865009ND
2023-07-11Q2326865012ND