Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Kress 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.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND
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
2018-01-18Q1802138001ND
2018-05-17Q1820299002ND
2018-05-17Q1820299003ND
2018-08-01Q1830568001ND
2018-10-09Q1840125001ND
2019-01-24Q1903571003ND
2019-04-09Q1914247002ND
2019-04-09Q1914247003ND
2019-07-09Q1942724002ND
2019-10-29Q1974402001ND
2020-01-16Q2001710003ND
2020-04-08Q2014314001ND
2020-04-08Q2014314006ND
2020-07-23Q2028982002ND
2020-11-12Q2044650001ND
2021-02-09Q2103898003ND
2021-04-20Q2110121008ND
2021-04-20Q2110121010ND
2021-08-05Q2120688001ND
2021-10-14Q2128808001ND
2022-01-13Q2201413002ND
2022-04-07Q2210890002ND
2022-04-07Q2210890004ND
2022-08-15Q2223646001ND
2022-10-18Q2231523002ND
2023-01-19Q2302865002ND
2023-04-05Q2312655001ND
2023-07-31Q2330814004ND
2023-07-31Q2330814006ND
2023-11-06Q2347394001ND