Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Ivanhoe Land of Lakes

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.

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND20ND

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
2018-02-20AE14475ND
2018-06-04AE28553ND
2018-06-21AE30995ND
2018-09-25AE41526ND
2018-12-03AE47614ND
2019-03-05AE57132ND
2019-03-05AE57136ND
2019-03-05AE57138ND
2019-05-22AE67705ND
2019-08-14AE78672ND
2020-02-20AE99301ND
2020-06-29AF17290ND
2020-06-29AF17292ND
2021-08-18AF66896ND
2022-10-20AG17828ND
2023-07-31AG50606ND
2023-07-31AG50612ND