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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Salt Lake City 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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

124

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND160ND
2015ND240ND
2016ND290ND
2017ND340ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND210ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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 Result
2014-01-10ND
2014-05-30ND
2014-05-30ND
2014-06-03ND
2014-06-06ND
2014-06-11ND
2014-06-25ND
2014-06-25ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-02ND
2014-07-09ND
2014-07-09ND
2014-07-09ND
2014-07-09ND
2014-07-11ND
2015-01-23ND
2015-01-30ND
2015-01-30ND
2015-02-27ND
2015-05-08ND
2015-05-15ND
2015-06-19ND
2015-06-19ND
2015-06-19ND
2015-06-19ND
2015-06-29ND
2015-06-30ND
2015-06-30ND
2015-06-30ND
2015-07-07ND
2015-07-10ND
2015-07-10ND
2015-07-10ND
2015-07-10ND
2015-08-07ND
2015-09-04ND
2015-09-18ND
2015-09-29ND
2015-09-29ND
2016-01-08ND
2016-01-08ND
2016-01-15ND
2016-02-12ND
2016-02-26ND
2016-03-25ND
2016-05-18ND
2016-05-18ND
2016-05-18ND
2016-05-19ND
2016-05-19ND
2016-06-03ND
2016-06-03ND
2016-06-10ND
2016-06-10ND
2016-06-10ND
2016-06-24ND
2016-06-24ND
2016-06-24ND
2016-06-28ND
2016-06-28ND
2016-07-01ND
2016-07-08ND
2016-07-08ND
2016-07-13ND
2016-07-29ND
2016-07-29ND
2016-07-29ND
2016-08-05ND
2017-01-13ND
2017-01-16ND
2017-01-16ND
2017-01-16ND
2017-03-03ND
2017-03-06ND
2017-03-24ND
2017-03-27ND
2017-06-09ND
2017-06-09ND
2017-06-09ND
2017-06-12ND
2017-06-16ND
2017-06-16ND
2017-06-19ND
2017-06-19ND
2017-06-20ND
2017-06-21ND
2017-06-23ND
2017-06-30ND
2017-06-30ND
2017-06-30ND
2017-07-03ND
2017-07-14ND
2017-07-14ND
2017-07-21ND
2017-07-21ND
2017-07-21ND
2017-07-24ND
2017-07-25ND
2017-08-08ND
2017-08-08ND
2017-08-22ND
2017-08-22ND
2019-01-11ND
2019-01-11ND
2019-02-01ND
2019-04-26ND
2019-05-03ND
2019-05-31ND
2019-06-19ND
2019-06-19ND
2019-06-21ND
2019-06-25ND
2019-06-26ND
2019-06-27ND
2019-07-03ND
2019-07-03ND
2019-07-23ND
2019-07-23ND
2019-07-23ND
2019-07-23ND
2019-08-07ND
2019-08-16ND
2019-08-16ND