Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Jordanelle Special Service District

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.

 

37

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND50ND
20210.314 ppb71ND - 2.20 ppb
2022ND60ND
2023ND80ND

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 Result
2018-01-10ND
2018-04-09ND
2018-07-03ND
2018-07-18ND
2018-10-16ND
2019-01-08ND
2019-04-23ND
2019-06-27ND
2019-06-27ND
2019-07-29ND
2019-10-16ND
2020-01-13ND
2020-04-15ND
2020-07-29ND
2020-08-03ND
2020-10-20ND
2021-01-11ND
2021-01-19ND
2021-04-12ND
2021-06-292.20 ppb
2021-07-13ND
2021-09-20ND
2021-10-19ND
2022-01-11ND
2022-04-06ND
2022-07-14ND
2022-07-14ND
2022-07-19ND
2022-10-05ND
2023-01-18ND
2023-04-06ND
2023-05-24ND
2023-05-24ND
2023-06-05ND
2023-07-17ND
2023-08-10ND
2023-10-24ND