Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Saint Francis Village

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
2018-07-19Q1828773003ND
2018-07-19Q1828773005ND
2018-07-19Q1828773007ND
2018-07-19Q1828773002ND
2019-03-20Q1911627006ND
2019-03-20Q1911627007ND
2019-03-20Q1911627010ND
2019-03-20Q1911627018ND
2020-07-20Q2028181001ND
2020-07-20Q2028181003ND
2020-07-20Q2028181005ND
2020-07-20Q2028181007ND
2021-09-14Q2125001001ND
2021-09-14Q2125001007ND
2021-09-14Q2125001005ND
2021-09-14Q2125001003ND
2022-05-26Q2215264003ND
2022-05-26Q2215264005ND
2022-05-26Q2215264007ND
2022-05-26Q2215264009ND
2023-03-20Q2310438001ND
2023-03-20Q2310438003ND
2023-03-20Q2310438005ND
2023-03-20Q2310438007ND