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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Nas Whiting Field

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

 

166

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND120ND
2015ND340ND
2016ND300ND
2017ND220ND
2018ND360ND
2019ND320ND

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 Result
2014-02-06ND
2014-02-06ND
2014-02-06ND
2014-09-09ND
2014-09-09ND
2014-09-09ND
2014-11-11ND
2014-11-11ND
2014-11-11ND
2014-12-04ND
2014-12-04ND
2014-12-04ND
2015-01-06ND
2015-01-06ND
2015-01-06ND
2015-02-10ND
2015-02-10ND
2015-02-10ND
2015-03-03ND
2015-03-03ND
2015-03-04ND
2015-04-02ND
2015-04-02ND
2015-04-02ND
2015-05-12ND
2015-05-12ND
2015-05-12ND
2015-06-10ND
2015-06-10ND
2015-06-10ND
2015-07-01ND
2015-07-01ND
2015-07-01ND
2015-07-09ND
2015-07-13ND
2015-07-15ND
2015-08-11ND
2015-08-11ND
2015-09-03ND
2015-09-03ND
2015-10-07ND
2015-10-07ND
2015-11-05ND
2015-11-05ND
2015-12-15ND
2015-12-15ND
2016-01-07ND
2016-01-07ND
2016-02-11ND
2016-02-11ND
2016-03-09ND
2016-03-09ND
2016-04-05ND
2016-04-05ND
2016-05-16ND
2016-05-16ND
2016-06-09ND
2016-06-09ND
2016-07-14ND
2016-07-14ND
2016-07-15ND
2016-08-08ND
2016-08-08ND
2016-08-08ND
2016-09-15ND
2016-09-15ND
2016-09-15ND
2016-10-10ND
2016-10-10ND
2016-10-10ND
2016-11-14ND
2016-11-14ND
2016-11-14ND
2016-12-15ND
2016-12-15ND
2016-12-15ND
2017-01-16ND
2017-01-16ND
2017-01-16ND
2017-02-14ND
2017-02-14ND
2017-02-14ND
2017-03-15ND
2017-03-15ND
2017-04-04ND
2017-04-04ND
2017-05-09ND
2017-05-09ND
2017-06-14ND
2017-06-14ND
2017-08-08ND
2017-08-08ND
2017-10-12ND
2017-10-12ND
2017-10-12ND
2017-12-14ND
2017-12-14ND
2017-12-14ND
2018-01-15ND
2018-01-15ND
2018-01-15ND
2018-02-06ND
2018-02-06ND
2018-02-06ND
2018-03-15ND
2018-03-15ND
2018-03-15ND
2018-04-11ND
2018-04-11ND
2018-04-11ND
2018-05-08ND
2018-05-08ND
2018-05-08ND
2018-06-18ND
2018-06-18ND
2018-06-18ND
2018-07-12ND
2018-07-12ND
2018-07-12ND
2018-08-08ND
2018-08-08ND
2018-08-08ND
2018-09-12ND
2018-09-12ND
2018-09-12ND
2018-10-18ND
2018-10-18ND
2018-10-18ND
2018-11-15ND
2018-11-15ND
2018-11-30ND
2018-12-12ND
2018-12-12ND
2018-12-12ND
2019-01-16ND
2019-01-16ND
2019-01-16ND
2019-02-13ND
2019-02-13ND
2019-02-13ND
2019-03-07ND
2019-03-07ND
2019-03-07ND
2019-04-17ND
2019-04-17ND
2019-05-09ND
2019-05-09ND
2019-06-12ND
2019-06-12ND
2019-07-17ND
2019-07-17ND
2019-08-14ND
2019-08-14ND
2019-08-14ND
2019-09-12ND
2019-09-12ND
2019-09-12ND
2019-10-10ND
2019-10-16ND
2019-10-16ND
2019-11-06ND
2019-11-06ND
2019-11-06ND
2019-12-05ND
2019-12-05ND
2019-12-05ND