Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Clark Public Utilities

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
2018ND110ND
2019ND40ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND30ND
2022ND70ND
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
2018-08-01ND
2018-08-01ND
2018-08-01ND
2018-08-01ND
2018-08-01ND
2018-08-28ND
2018-08-28ND
2018-09-18ND
2018-09-18ND
2018-09-18ND
2018-11-18ND
2019-02-24ND
2019-02-24ND
2019-07-22ND
2019-09-05ND
2021-06-304143007ND
2021-08-024169136ND
2021-08-024169145ND
2022-07-274328694ND
2022-07-284328695ND
2022-07-284328685ND
2022-07-284328702ND
2022-08-034328682ND
2022-08-034328680ND
2022-08-034328676ND
2023-05-234545879ND
2023-06-124473924ND
2023-06-124473920ND
2023-06-124473922ND
2023-06-124473923ND