Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

City of Hearne

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
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-06-21AE31001ND
2018-06-21AE31005ND
2018-06-21AE31007ND
2018-06-21AE30999ND
2019-05-16AE66869ND
2019-05-16AE66871ND
2019-05-16AE66873ND
2019-05-16AE66875ND
2020-04-23AF07870ND
2020-06-30AF17373ND
2020-06-30AF17375ND
2020-06-30AF17377ND
2021-06-08AF56947ND
2021-06-08AF56967ND
2021-06-08AF56965ND
2021-06-08AF56957ND
2022-06-22AG01932ND
2022-06-22AG01934ND
2022-06-22AG01936ND
2022-06-22AG01938ND
2023-06-13AG44230ND
2023-06-13AG44232ND
2023-06-13AG44234ND
2023-07-27AG50404ND