Styrene in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Long-term exposure above the MCL may cause liver, kidney, and circulatory system effects. Styrene is a possible human carcinogen based on animal studies.
📍 Sources in Water
An industrial monomer used to make plastics (polystyrene) and rubber. Enters water from discharge of rubber, plastics, and resin factories, and from fuel spills.
✅ What To Do
Activated carbon and reverse osmosis can remove styrene. Styrene violations in community water systems are relatively uncommon.
Check your tap water for Styrene
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Styrene violations, plus lead testing results and an overall safety grade.
Search your ZIP code →Data from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). MCLs reflect minimum federal standards; some contaminants may pose health risks below these thresholds.