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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Lyme Academy Apartments LLC

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

 

48

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

6

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND80ND
2015ND80ND
20160.0838 ppb81ND - 0.670 ppb
20171.65 ppb84ND - 6.40 ppb
20180.0825 ppb81ND - 0.660 ppb
2019ND80ND

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
2014-03-26BG23521VOC1ND
2014-03-26BG23520VOC1ND
2014-06-24BG64509VOC1ND
2014-06-24BG64508VOC1ND
2014-09-26BH20023VOC1ND
2014-09-26BH20024VOC1ND
2014-10-16BH28467VOC1ND
2014-10-16BH28468VOC1ND
2015-01-15BH63717VOC1ND
2015-01-15BH63718VOC1ND
2015-04-30BJ10117VOC1ND
2015-04-30BJ10118VOC1ND
2015-07-10BJ44676VOC1ND
2015-07-10BJ44675VOC1ND
2015-10-19BK10275VOC1ND
2015-10-19BK10276VOC1ND
2016-01-28BK58725VOC1ND
2016-01-28BK58726VOC1ND
2016-04-14BN13921VOC1ND
2016-04-14BN13922VOC1ND
2016-07-14BN72967VOC1ND
2016-07-14BN72968VOC1ND
2016-10-06BV39864VOC10.670 ppb
2016-10-06BV39865VOC1ND
2017-01-05BX16401VOC16.40 ppb
2017-01-05BX16402VOC1ND
2017-04-20BY07563VOC11.50 ppb
2017-04-20BY07564VOC1ND
2017-07-06BY52781VOC13.90 ppb
2017-07-06BY52782VOC1ND
2017-10-05BZ15701VOC11.40 ppb
2017-10-05BZ15702VOC1ND
2018-01-11BZ71421VOC10.660 ppb
2018-01-11BZ71422VOC1ND
2018-04-05CA14772VOC1ND
2018-04-05CA14773VOC1ND
2018-07-16CA90748ND
2018-07-16CA90749ND
2018-10-11CB69892ND
2018-10-11CB69893ND
2019-02-05CC40790ND
2019-02-05CC40791ND
2019-04-08CC90374ND
2019-04-08CC90375ND
2019-07-22CD62263ND
2019-07-22CD62264ND
2019-10-17CE42740ND
2019-10-17CE42741ND