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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Styrene

Audubon Water Company

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

 

138

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND220ND
2015ND240ND
2016ND240ND
2017ND230ND
2018ND230ND
2019ND220ND

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
2014-01-131066988001ND
2014-01-131066988002ND
2014-01-131066988003ND
2014-02-271073775001ND
2014-04-021079479001ND
2014-04-021079479002ND
2014-04-021079479004ND
2014-04-021079479003ND
2014-04-232003262001ND
2014-04-232003262002ND
2014-08-282026276001ND
2014-08-282026276002ND
2014-08-282026276003ND
2014-09-092028135001ND
2014-09-092028135002ND
2014-09-092028135003ND
2014-10-062032858001ND
2014-10-062032858002ND
2014-10-062032858003ND
2014-10-062032858004ND
2014-11-062038813001ND
2014-11-062038814001ND
2015-03-1012517674ND
2015-03-1012517737ND
2015-03-1012517716ND
2015-03-1012517695ND
2015-03-1812517758ND
2015-03-1812517779ND
2015-03-1812517800ND
2015-03-2612635370ND
2015-06-0112751833ND
2015-06-0112751854ND
2015-06-0112751875ND
2015-06-0112751896ND
2015-06-0512884478ND
2015-09-1713266501ND
2015-09-1713266522ND
2015-09-1713266543ND
2015-09-1713266564ND
2015-09-2413266585ND
2015-10-1913391319ND
2015-11-1913515899ND
2015-11-1913515920ND
2015-11-1913515941ND
2015-11-1913515962ND
2015-11-1913515983ND
2016-02-0513872270ND
2016-02-0513872291ND
2016-02-0513872312ND
2016-02-0513872333ND
2016-03-1713988315ND
2016-04-0413988346ND
2016-04-0413988367ND
2016-04-0413988388ND
2016-04-0413988409ND
2016-04-1314105397ND
2016-04-1314105418ND
2016-04-2214572540ND
2016-04-2514572561ND
2016-09-1614910419ND
2016-09-1614910440ND
2016-09-1614910461ND
2016-09-1614910482ND
2016-09-2914910801ND
2016-10-0515078214ND
2016-10-0515078235ND
2016-10-0515078256ND
2016-10-0515078277ND
2016-10-0515078298ND
2016-12-0815374257ND
2017-01-1715519933ND
2017-02-1015657977ND
2017-02-1015657998ND
2017-02-1015658019ND
2017-02-1015658040ND
2017-02-1015658061ND
2017-02-2315658082ND
2017-05-0515940550ND
2017-05-0515940571ND
2017-05-0515940592ND
2017-05-0515940613ND
2017-09-1916729574ND
2017-09-1916729595ND
2017-09-1916729616ND
2017-09-1916729637ND
2017-09-2016729658ND
2017-09-2516729679ND
2017-10-0216729799ND
2017-10-0216729820ND
2017-10-0216729841ND
2017-10-0216729862ND
2017-10-0516882754ND
2017-10-1716882917ND
2018-03-022299268001ND
2018-03-022299268002ND
2018-03-022299268003ND
2018-03-022299268004ND
2018-03-282305330001ND
2018-04-012306020001ND
2018-04-022306020002ND
2018-04-022306020003ND
2018-04-022306020004ND
2018-04-022306020005ND
2018-09-172338753001ND
2018-09-172338753002ND
2018-09-172338753003ND
2018-09-172338753004ND
2018-09-172338753005ND
2018-09-182339343001ND
2018-09-202339702001ND
2018-09-212340025001ND
2018-10-012341512001ND
2018-10-012341512002ND
2018-10-012341512003ND
2018-10-012341512004ND
2018-10-242346425001ND
2019-03-223023817002ND
2019-03-223023817001ND
2019-03-223023817005ND
2019-03-223023817003ND
2019-03-223023817006ND
2019-03-223023817004ND
2019-04-103027288001ND
2019-04-103027288003ND
2019-04-103027288005ND
2019-04-103027288007ND
2019-04-243029820001ND
2019-07-253047779001ND
2019-07-253047779003ND
2019-07-253047779005ND
2019-07-253047779007ND
2019-08-053049543001ND
2019-10-163064410005ND
2019-10-163064409001ND
2019-10-163064410001ND
2019-10-163064410003ND
2019-10-163064410007ND
2019-10-223065363001ND