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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Grafton 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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

145

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND240ND
2015ND240ND
2016ND240ND
2017ND220ND
2018ND230ND
2019ND280ND

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 Lab ID Result
2014-03-10773674ND
2014-03-10773667ND
2014-03-10773668ND
2014-03-10773656ND
2014-03-10773671ND
2014-03-10773659ND
2014-04-07778332ND
2014-04-07778330ND
2014-04-07778329ND
2014-04-07778325ND
2014-04-07778331ND
2014-04-07778326ND
2014-07-29806739ND
2014-07-29806744ND
2014-07-29806738ND
2014-07-29806742ND
2014-07-29806743ND
2014-07-29806745ND
2014-12-15835979ND
2014-12-15835984ND
2014-12-15835978ND
2014-12-15835982ND
2014-12-15835983ND
2014-12-15835985ND
2015-03-04846466ND
2015-03-04846463ND
2015-03-04846461ND
2015-03-04846449ND
2015-03-04846464ND
2015-03-04846451ND
2015-05-26861799ND
2015-05-26861796ND
2015-05-26861797ND
2015-05-26861792ND
2015-05-26861798ND
2015-05-26861793ND
2015-09-08881969ND
2015-09-08881962ND
2015-09-08881968ND
2015-09-08881963ND
2015-09-09881966ND
2015-09-09881967ND
2015-12-28899820ND
2015-12-28899817ND
2015-12-28899818ND
2015-12-28899813ND
2015-12-28899819ND
2015-12-28899814ND
2016-03-16910611ND
2016-03-16910607ND
2016-03-16910606ND
2016-03-16910599ND
2016-03-16910609ND
2016-03-16910601ND
2016-05-16921438ND
2016-05-16921436ND
2016-05-16921435ND
2016-05-16921431ND
2016-05-16921437ND
2016-05-16921432ND
2016-08-31942867ND
2016-08-31942865ND
2016-08-31942864ND
2016-08-31942860ND
2016-08-31942861ND
2016-09-01942866ND
2016-11-17960029ND
2016-11-17960027ND
2016-11-17960026ND
2016-11-17960022ND
2016-11-17960028ND
2016-11-17960023ND
2017-03-15978080ND
2017-03-15978083ND
2017-03-15978086ND
2017-03-16978077ND
2017-03-16978076ND
2017-03-16978073ND
2017-06-281001051ND
2017-06-281001047ND
2017-06-281001048ND
2017-06-281001043ND
2017-06-281001050ND
2017-09-201019870ND
2017-09-201019868ND
2017-09-201019867ND
2017-09-201019863ND
2017-09-201019869ND
2017-12-191034429ND
2017-12-191034427ND
2017-12-191034426ND
2017-12-191034422ND
2017-12-191034428ND
2017-12-191034423ND
2018-03-141045110ND
2018-03-141045108ND
2018-03-141045107ND
2018-03-141045103ND
2018-03-141045109ND
2018-03-141045104ND
2018-06-191062396ND
2018-06-191062394ND
2018-06-191062389ND
2018-06-191062395ND
2018-06-191062390ND
2018-09-171080756ND
2018-09-171080752ND
2018-09-171080753ND
2018-09-261083609ND
2018-09-261083608ND
2018-09-261083610ND
2018-11-261094376ND
2018-11-261094369ND
2018-11-261094370ND
2018-11-271094374ND
2018-11-271094373ND
2018-11-271094375ND
2019-03-181110136ND
2019-03-181110131ND
2019-03-181110132ND
2019-03-181110134ND
2019-03-181110128ND
2019-03-181110130ND
2019-04-171116388ND
2019-06-171128507ND
2019-06-171128505ND
2019-06-171128504ND
2019-06-171128506ND
2019-06-171128501ND
2019-06-171128502ND
2019-06-171128503ND
2019-09-241151017ND
2019-09-241151014ND
2019-09-241151015ND
2019-09-241151016ND
2019-09-241151011ND
2019-09-241151012ND
2019-09-241151013ND
2019-12-101164883ND
2019-12-101164881ND
2019-12-101164880ND
2019-12-101164882ND
2019-12-101164877ND
2019-12-101164879ND
2019-12-101164878ND