Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Walnut Grove 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.

 

71

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND120ND
2020ND90ND
2021ND130ND
2022ND180ND
2023ND140ND

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
2018-03-07282520-2018-DWND
2018-06-06287632-2018-DWND
2018-08-15292292-2018-DWVND
2018-08-15292293-2018-DWVND
2018-10-16295667-2018-DWVND
2019-02-26301436-2019-DWVND
2019-02-26301437-2019-DWND
2019-03-05301698-2019-DWVND
2019-03-05301699-2019-DWND
2019-03-12302098-2019-DWND
2019-03-12302099-2019-DWAND
2019-03-12302100-2019-DWVND
2019-04-02303159-2019-DWVND
2019-04-09303654-2019-DWND
2019-08-13310365-2019DWND
2019-12-03317113-2019-DWND
2019-12-04317121-2019-DWAND
2020-03-12321782-2020-DWVND
2020-03-12321782-2020-DWVND
2020-03-18322191-2020-DWVND
2020-06-11326414-2020-DWVND
2020-06-11326413-2020-DWND
2020-08-24331119-2020-DWND
2020-08-24331118-2020-DWND
2020-11-17335914-2020-DWVND
2020-11-24336266-2020-DWND
2021-03-187364282001VND
2021-03-187364280001ND
2021-04-227368589001ND
2021-05-137371332001VND
2021-07-217380944003AND
2021-08-121085142-01ND
2021-08-167384685001VND
2021-09-077387721001AND
2021-12-21810-11091-2ND
2021-12-21810-11047-1ND
2021-12-21810-11087-1ND
2021-12-21810-11089-1ND
2021-12-21810-11091-1ND
2022-03-08810-17576-1ND
2022-03-08810-17508-1ND
2022-03-08810-17505-1ND
2022-03-08810-17573-1ND
2022-03-09FWC0111CND
2022-03-09810-18451-1ND
2022-03-14FWC0176-01VND
2022-03-23810-18980-1ND
2022-05-16FWF0001-01CND
2022-05-16FWE0091-01ND
2022-05-16FWE0082-01BND
2022-05-23FWE0088ND
2022-07-11FWG0325AND
2022-07-11FWG0324ND
2022-07-11FWG0306ND
2022-10-26FWJ0181-01ND
2022-11-14FWJ0184ND
2022-11-15FWJ0191ND
2023-02-07FXB0061-01ND
2023-02-07FXB0070-01ND
2023-02-09FXB0077-01ND
2023-04-04FXC0510ND
2023-04-04FXC0539-01ND
2023-04-05FXC0546-01ND
2023-04-05FXC0561-01ND
2023-04-06FXC0504-01ND
2023-04-06FXD0264-01ND
2023-08-02FXF0580-01ND
2023-08-07FXH0354ND
2023-08-07FXH0356-01ND
2023-11-1468354501ND
2023-11-1468354601ND