Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Altoona 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.

 

38

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND80ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND110ND

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
2018-03-121044559ND
2018-06-191062457ND
2018-06-191062452ND
2018-09-181081371ND
2018-12-171097851ND
2019-03-111108740ND
2019-06-181128839ND
2019-06-181128844ND
2019-09-161148215ND
2019-12-091164494ND
2020-06-161193784ND
2020-06-161193785ND
2020-06-161193781ND
2020-06-161193782ND
2020-06-161193783ND
2020-06-161193780ND
2020-09-151214813ND
2020-12-151232451ND
2021-03-151243823ND
2021-03-151243823ND
2021-06-151259378ND
2021-09-071275724ND
2021-11-081288394ND
2022-01-191296685ND
2022-05-031311124ND
2022-09-211338361ND
2022-10-201345196ND
2023-01-25CB00795-02ND
2023-01-26CB00861-02ND
2023-02-08CB01247-01ND
2023-06-12CB06321-09ND
2023-07-31CB08782-06ND
2023-07-31CB08782-09ND
2023-07-31CB08782-12ND
2023-07-31CB08782-03ND
2023-08-01CB08877-03ND
2023-08-01CB08877-06ND
2023-11-07CB13662-01ND