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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Sanford Water District

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

 

114

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND190ND
2015ND180ND
2016ND220ND
2017ND240ND
2018ND140ND
2019ND170ND

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
2014-03-12ND
2014-03-12ND
2014-03-12ND
2014-06-02ND
2014-06-02ND
2014-06-03ND
2014-06-03ND
2014-06-04ND
2014-06-05ND
2014-06-05ND
2014-08-11ND
2014-08-12ND
2014-10-30ND
2014-11-17ND
2014-11-17ND
2014-11-17ND
2014-11-17ND
2014-11-17ND
2014-11-17ND
2015-03-11215030269ND
2015-03-11215030266ND
2015-03-11215030264ND
2015-04-29215040774.03ND
2015-04-29215040774.02ND
2015-04-29215040774.01ND
2015-05-27215050784ND
2015-07-15215070452.01ND
2015-07-15215070450ND
2015-08-24215080762ND
2015-08-24215080759ND
2015-08-26215080854.03ND
2015-08-26215080854.02ND
2015-08-26215080854.01ND
2015-11-18215110432ND
2015-11-18215110430ND
2015-11-18215110426ND
2015-11-24215110428ND
2016-03-29216030772ND
2016-03-29216030770.01ND
2016-03-30216030803ND
2016-03-30216030801ND
2016-05-25216051007ND
2016-06-15216060628ND
2016-06-15216060626ND
2016-06-15216060624ND
2016-06-20216060820ND
2016-06-20216060817ND
2016-08-24216080963.01ND
2016-08-29216081192.02ND
2016-08-29216081192.01ND
2016-08-30216081239.02ND
2016-08-30216081239.01ND
2016-11-09216110294ND
2016-11-09216110292ND
2016-11-16216110518ND
2016-11-16216110516ND
2016-12-06216120183ND
2016-12-06216120180ND
2016-12-15216120418ND
2017-03-21217030573.01ND
2017-03-21217030571.01ND
2017-03-22217030622.01ND
2017-03-22217030620.01ND
2017-03-28217030765.01ND
2017-05-30217051146.01ND
2017-05-30217051143.01ND
2017-05-30217051123.01ND
2017-05-30217051120.01ND
2017-05-31217051229.01ND
2017-05-31217051226.01ND
2017-05-31217051223.01ND
2017-06-14217060612.01ND
2017-06-14217060609.01ND
2017-08-23217081090ND
2017-08-29217081325ND
2017-08-29217081321ND
2017-08-29217081317.01ND
2017-08-30217081406ND
2017-08-30217081402ND
2017-08-30217081398ND
2017-12-13217120406.03ND
2017-12-13217120406.02ND
2017-12-13217120406.01ND
2018-06-13218060558.01ND
2018-06-13218060559.01ND
2018-06-20218060837.01ND
2018-06-20218060835.01ND
2018-06-20218060839.01ND
2018-09-18218090600.01ND
2018-09-18218090600.04ND
2018-09-18218090600.03ND
2018-09-18218090600.02ND
2018-09-19218090648.05ND
2018-09-19218090648.04ND
2018-09-19218090648.03ND
2018-09-19218090648.02ND
2018-09-19218090648.01ND
2019-05-22219050982.01ND
2019-05-22219050988.01ND
2019-05-22219050990.01ND
2019-05-22219050984.01ND
2019-05-22219050986.01ND
2019-08-14219080604.01ND
2019-08-14219080602.01ND
2019-08-14219080600.01ND
2019-08-22219080955.01ND
2019-08-26219081046.01ND
2019-12-17219120550.01ND
2019-12-17219120554.01ND
2019-12-17219120552.01ND
2019-12-17219120557.01ND
2019-12-18219120612.01ND
2019-12-18219120614.01ND
2019-12-18219120610.01ND