Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Deforest Waterworks

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.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND120ND

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
2018-03-131044928ND
2018-03-131044929ND
2018-08-29404007001ND
2019-06-191129331ND
2019-06-191129330ND
2020-06-021191108ND
2020-06-021191109ND
2020-06-021191107ND
2020-06-021191092ND
2021-04-131248611ND
2021-04-131248610ND
2022-07-261326226ND
2023-03-21669283001ND
2023-03-21669282001ND
2023-06-08682745001ND
2023-06-08682743001ND
2023-07-25691015001ND
2023-07-25691015002ND
2023-09-07698953003ND
2023-09-07698953001ND
2023-09-19701205001ND
2023-09-19701208001ND
2023-12-12714406001ND
2023-12-12714406002ND