Styrene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.
2017-2019:
33
states detected
179
utilities detected
1.1 million
people served
15
states over health guideline
23
utilities over health guideline
27,959
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for styrene
Cancer
Harm to the liver
Harm to the brain and nervous system
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
States reporting styrene in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 5 | 348,416 | |||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 18 | 348,108 | |||
| Michigan | 8 | 18,365 | 49 | 198,868 | |||
| Mississippi | 1 | 317 | 6 | 88,581 | |||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 24 | 39,311 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 1 | 38,700 | |||
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12,025 | |||
| New York | 0 | 0 | 12 | 11,278 | |||
| Texas | 1 | 528 | 4 | 9,487 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6,500 | |||
| Maine | 1 | 60 | 11 | 4,954 | |||
| California | 2 | 187 | 4 | 4,012 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3,258 | |||
| Iowa | 1 | 3,221 | 1 | 3,221 | |||
| Washington | 1 | 2,750 | 1 | 2,750 | |||
| Georgia | 1 | 1,256 | 2 | 2,426 | |||
| Vermont | 1 | 642 | 3 | 2,163 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2,102 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1,580 | |||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1,283 | |||
| Illinois | 1 | 60 | 4 | 1,260 | |||
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1,181 | |||
| Missouri | 1 | 125 | 3 | 311 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 1 | 250 | |||
| North Carolina | 1 | 210 | 1 | 210 | |||
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 1 | 200 | |||
| New Mexico | 1 | 160 | 1 | 160 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 153 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 1 | 126 | |||
| Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 1 | 91 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 2 | 55 | |||
| Connecticut | 1 | 48 | 1 | 48 | |||
| Alaska | 1 | 30 | 1 | 30 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce styrene
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of styrene, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson Valley Water Company #2 | Woodbury, NY | 1 of 3 | 3.00 ppb | 225 |
| Pojoaque Terraces Mobile Home Park | Fairview, NM | 1 of 3 | 2.83 ppb | 160 |
| Chaparral Water Company | Tucson, AZ | 1 of 8 | 2.75 ppb | 813 |
| Timberline Shores | Cary, NC | 13 of 17 | 2.44 ppb | 210 |
| Yosemite Nps-hodgdon Meadow | Yosemite Np, CA | 1 of 1 | 1.80 ppb | 51 |
| Good Life Enterprises LLC | Hopewell Junction, NY | 1 of 1 | 1.80 ppb | 200 |
| Ridgecrest North Subdivision | Morris, IL | 3 of 14 | 1.62 ppb | 60 |
| Corydon Water Supply | Corydon, IA | 1 of 1 | 1.40 ppb | 1,585 |
| Oak Creek Mobile Home Park (water) | Coarsegold, CA | 1 of 1 | 1.000 ppb | 370 |
| East Middlebury Fd 1 | East Middlebury, VT | 3 of 7 | 0.957 ppb | 642 |
| Lake Angela Condo Apartments #5 | New Hudson, MI | 2 of 2 | 0.950 ppb | 24 |
| Deep Run Adult Village | Colts Neck, NJ | 4 of 26 | 0.908 ppb | 400 |
| Great Waters At Reynolds Plantation | Atlanta, GA | 2 of 19 | 0.847 ppb | 1,256 |
| Churdan Water Supply | Churdan, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.800 ppb | 386 |
| Tipton Water Supply | Tipton, IA | 1 of 2 | 0.800 ppb | 3,221 |
| Mapleview Estates East | Mt. Pleasant, MI | 1 of 2 | 0.800 ppb | 220 |
| The Callicoon Water Company Inc. | Hortonville, NY | 2 of 2 | 0.750 ppb | 990 |
| Country Tyme Estates | Mansfield, IL | 4 of 7 | 0.739 ppb | 120 |
| Indian Acres Mobile Home Park | Wayland, MI | 1 of 1 | 0.700 ppb | 88 |
| Brookside Mobile Home Park | Semi Valley, CA | 2 of 2 | 0.650 ppb | 136 |
| Oak Hill Estates Mobile Home Community | Holly, MI | 1 of 2 | 0.650 ppb | 1,260 |
| Greatland Village Park | Kenai, AK | 1 of 2 | 0.620 ppb | 30 |
| City of Fraser | Escanaba, MI | 1 of 1 | 0.600 ppb | 16,500 |
| Andrews Mobile Home Park | Wayland, MI | 1 of 1 | 0.600 ppb | 90 |
| White Pines Mobile Home Park | Atlanta, MI | 1 of 1 | 0.600 ppb | 90 |
| Paradise Point Subdivision | Austin, TX | 3 of 6 | 0.583 ppb | 528 |
| Mapleview Estates | Mt. Pleasant, MI | 1 of 2 | 0.550 ppb | 93 |
| Carson | Carson, WA | 2 of 4 | 0.550 ppb | 2,750 |
| Riverside Estates | Yale, MI | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 218 |
| Holiday Mobile Park Inc. | Wappingers Falls, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.500 ppb | 250 |
| Ausable Heights Water System | Keeseville, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 46 |
| 52nd Ave Water Group | Kenosha, WI | 2 of 20 | 0.470 ppb | 35 |
| Deer Lodge Mobile Home Park | Herndon, MD | 1 of 3 | 0.433 ppb | 87 |
| Spinnaker Point | Cary, NC | 1 of 17 | 0.424 ppb | 144 |
| Persistence Seniors Housing | Newburgh, ME | 1 of 3 | 0.400 ppb | 60 |
| Northern Pines | Lansing, MI | 1 of 2 | 0.400 ppb | 18 |
| Mannsville Village | Mannsville, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.400 ppb | 450 |
| Shepherd, Village of | Manitou Beach, MI | 1 of 3 | 0.400 ppb | 1,515 |
| Interlaken Village | Interlaken, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.400 ppb | 650 |
| Badger Water Supply | Badger, IA | 1 of 2 | 0.400 ppb | 561 |
| Brandt Point | Sequim, WA | 1 of 15 | 0.393 ppb | 26 |
| Hemingford, Village of | Hemingford, NE | 1 of 10 | 0.340 ppb | 810 |
| Lanark Village (city of Carrabelle) | Carrabelle, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.333 ppb | 1,625 |
| Central Crossing Acres II | Shell Knob, MO | 1 of 2 | 0.315 ppb | 25 |
| Lyme Academy Apartments LLC | Trumbull, CT | 6 of 48 | 0.303 ppb | 48 |
| Friendship Hills Subd | Stockton, MO | 1 of 2 | 0.290 ppb | 35 |
| Bloomsdale PWS | Bloomsdale, MO | 1 of 2 | 0.285 ppb | 523 |
| Yale, City of | Yale, MI | 2 of 7 | 0.271 ppb | 1,900 |
| MO American Spokane Highlands | Joplin, MO | 2 of 4 | 0.268 ppb | 150 |
| Barry Township | Delton, MI | 1 of 3 | 0.267 ppb | 260 |
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Fraser | Escanaba, MI | 1 of 1 | 0.600 ppb | 16,500 |
| City of Bay City | Bay City, MI | 1 of 4 | 0.150 ppb | 34,932 |
| Bangor Township | Bay City, MI | 1 of 4 | 0.150 ppb | 11,938 |
| Lee County Utilities* | Fort Myers, FL | 7 of 21 | 0.141 ppb | 251,502 |
| Gateway Services District | Fort Myers, FL | 7 of 21 | 0.141 ppb | 12,717 |
| Kaukauna Utilities | Kaukauna, WI | 1 of 7 | 0.103 ppb | 13,430 |
| Wilmington Water Department | Wilmington, MA | 1 of 7 | 0.0800 ppb | 22,325 |
| US Army Aviation and Missile Command | Redstone Arsenal, AL | 1 of 13 | 0.0300 ppb | 38,700 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 14 | 0.0179 ppb | 127,700 |
| City of Gulfport | Saucier, MS | 1 of 72 | 0.0163 ppb | 72,935 |
| Wallingford Water Department | Wallingford, CT | 1 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 37,267 |
| Weston Municipal Utilities | Weston, WI | 1 of 15 | 0.0127 ppb | 15,045 |
| City of Stuart - Water Plant | Stuart, FL | 9 of 214 | 0.0105 ppb | 19,000 |
| Battle Creek - Verona System* | Clare, MI | 1 of 79 | 0.00886 ppb | 43,975 |
| Riviera Beach Utility District* | Riviera Beach, FL | 2 of 47 | 0.00700 ppb | 34,700 |
| River Falls Waterworks | River Falls, WI | 1 of 21 | 0.00619 ppb | 15,229 |
| Lacey Twp MUA | Forked River, NJ | 1 of 41 | 0.00585 ppb | 26,240 |
| NJ American Water - Coastal North* | Colts Neck, NJ | 1 of 93 | 0.00538 ppb | 335,449 |
| Cal-water Service Company - Chico | Chico, CA | 3 of 765 | 0.00450 ppb | 100,435 |
| Emerald Coast Utilities Authority* | Pensacola, FL | 1 of 325 | 0.00400 ppb | 255,884 |
| Peoples Water Service Company | Pensacola, FL | 1 of 249 | 0.00193 ppb | 24,081 |
| San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | 1 of 379 | 0.00182 ppb | 30,000 |
| San Jose Water Company* | San Jose, CA | 1 of 379 | 0.00182 ppb | 998,000 |
| Town of Hempstead Water Department | East Meadow, NY | 1 of 1,386 | 0.000844 ppb | 110,000 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Styrene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.