Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Sky Lakes Water Supply Corporation

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
2018-01-09AE08411ND
2018-01-09AE08351ND
2018-04-10AE21888ND
2018-07-31AE35102ND
2018-10-23AE44310ND
2019-02-27AE56273ND
2019-02-27AE56281ND
2019-05-01AE64373ND
2019-07-23AE75575ND
2019-10-31AE88166ND
2020-03-05AF01447ND
2020-03-05AF01449ND
2020-06-16AF15557ND
2020-07-29AF21397ND
2020-12-02AF36267ND
2021-03-10AF46288ND
2021-03-10AF46290ND
2021-06-16AF58379ND
2021-08-19AF67194ND
2021-10-19AF73965ND
2022-02-08AF83727ND
2022-02-08AF83731ND
2022-05-11AF96525ND
2022-09-13AG12684ND
2022-12-16AG22192ND
2023-01-25AG26252ND
2023-01-25AG26268ND
2023-05-10AG40015ND
2023-08-25AG54325ND
2023-11-02AG62193ND