Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Cedar Point

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
2018ND20ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND50ND
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
2018-02-15AE14107ND
2018-03-28AE20642ND
2019-02-28AE56560ND
2019-02-28AE56596ND
2019-05-28AE68232ND
2020-02-18AE98742ND
2020-02-18AE98744ND
2020-06-08AF14416ND
2020-09-01AF26048ND
2020-11-05AF33500ND
2021-03-11AF46545ND
2021-03-11AF46547ND
2021-05-24AF55139ND
2021-09-13AF69548ND
2021-11-02AF75613ND
2022-01-31AF82593ND
2022-01-31AF82597ND
2022-04-19AF93661ND
2022-08-18AG10060ND
2022-12-20AG22382ND
2023-02-21AG29727ND
2023-02-21AG29729ND
2023-04-19AG37371ND
2023-09-06AG55147ND
2023-12-21AG67280ND