Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Whitworth Water District 2

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.

 

29

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND130ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND30ND
2022ND110ND
2023ND10ND

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
2018-03-20ND
2019-04-18ND
2019-04-18ND
2019-04-18ND
2019-04-18ND
2019-05-09ND
2019-05-21ND
2019-05-21ND
2019-05-28ND
2019-05-28ND
2019-05-28ND
2019-05-28ND
2019-06-18ND
2019-06-21ND
2021-03-184094088ND
2021-07-084138074ND
2021-10-284196693ND
2022-01-244236842ND
2022-03-314261610ND
2022-04-214272384ND
2022-04-214272380ND
2022-05-184288406ND
2022-06-274309802ND
2022-06-274309800ND
2022-07-144309807ND
2022-07-144309808ND
2022-07-144309809ND
2022-10-114356380ND
2023-04-274452170ND