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Drinking Water Contaminants- Styrene

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This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). What is Styrene and how is it used? Styrene is an oily organic liquid with an aromatic, almost floral odor. Initially, styrene was used primarily in the synthetic rubber industry, but it is currently used as a building block for polymers in making plastics, resins, coatings, and paints. The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using this chemical at home or work. Trade Names and Synonyms: Vinyl benzene Phenethylene Cinnamene Diarex HF 77 Styrolene Styrol Styropol Why is Styrene being Regulated? In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals. The MCLG for styrene has been set at 0.1 parts per million (ppm) because EPA believes this level of protection would not cause any of the potential health problems described below. Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible, considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies. The MCL has been set at 0.1 ppm because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water. These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by these regulations. What are the Health Effects? Short-term: EPA has found styrene to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: nervous system effects such as depression, loss of concentration, weakness, fatigue and nausea. Long-term: Styrene has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: liver and nerve tissue damage; cancer. How much Styrene is produced and released to the environment? Production of styrene was 10.7 billion lbs in 1993. It is released into the environment by emissions and effluents from its production and its use in polymer manufacture. Consumers may be exposed to styrene through contact with resin products used in fiberglass boat construction and repair, and in auto body fillers. Styrene may also leach from polystyrene containers used for food products. From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA's Toxic Chemical Release Inventory, styrene releases to land and water totalled over 2 million lbs. These releases were primarily from adhesives and sealants industries. The largest releases occurred in Texas. The largest direct releases to water occurred in Louisiana. What happens to Styrene when it is released to the environment? Styrene released to water rapidly evaporates and is degraded by microbes. It does not bind well to soils and may leach to groundwater, but its rapid break down minimizes this process. It does not tend to accumulate in aquatic life. How will Styrene be Detected in and Removed from My Drinking Water? The regulation for styrene became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995, EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples every 3 months for one year and analyze them to find out if styrene is present above 0.5 ppb. If it is present above this level, the system must continue to monitor this contaminant. If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of styrene so that it is consistently below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA for removing styrene: Granular activated charcoal in combination with Packed Tower Aeration. How will I know if Styrene is in my drinking water? If the levels of styrene exceed the MCL, 0.1 ppm, the system must notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health. Drinking Water Standards: Mclg: 0.1 ppm Mcl: 0.1 ppm Styrene Releases to Water and Land, 1987 to 1993 (in pounds):   Water Land TOTALS (in pounds) 275,888 1,796,451 Top Ten States* TX 160,411 572,294 WV 1,600 555,360 IN 0 124,794 WI 0 102,973 OH 0 90,358 GA 0 79,000 LA 53,430 0 FL 0 38,800 NY 32 33,192 KY 0 18,000 Major Industries* Adhesives, sealants 0 537,360 Concrete products 0 398,424 Synthetic rubber 152,215 149,147 Misc. plastic products 515 201,713 Plastics and resins 25,133 71,363 Boatbuilding, repair 220 83,256 Car parts, access. 0 79,250 Misc. Indust. organics 34,275 43,290 Travel trailers, campers 0 45,129 Custom plastic resins 720 44,320 * Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases greater than a certain amount - usually 1000 to 10,000 lbs.   As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact sheet is part of a larger U.S. EPA publication: EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

We at reverse-osmosis-water-filter-guide.com is dedicated to help you find the best reverse osmosis drinking water filter systems. Our site discuss the "must-read" of buying reverse osmosis filters, topics including:

• How to find a top quality reverse osmosis water filter..the facts you need to know before you buy
• Reviews of different water filtration methods and of major brands/configurations of reverse osmosis water filters
• How to test your water so you know your reverse osmosis system is working in its top condition.
• Is bottled water really the safest? How does it compare to reverse osmosis purification systems?
• What are the different types of bottled water and their quality? What type of drinking water is the safest and healthiest
• Does your area have a water pollution problem? How many and which contaminants can reverse osmosis filters effectively remove?
• How do reverse osmosis filters give you the purest water? Reverse osmosis filtration technology explained in detail.
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Editor's Note: Do You Know What's In The Water That You're Drinking?
In 1993, the City of Milwaukee Wisconsin experienced a sad tragic event. People died from contamination in the public water supply. Cryptosporidium cysts poisoned over 100,000 people. Over 1000 people were hospitalized and nearly 100 people died. As a result of this, Milwaukee changed their water treatment facilities. People deserve safe, clean water both for drinking and for bathing. No one wants to wonder whether or not they are going to be poisoned by their water supply..
Water filtration should be the answer however studies have shown that many water filters out there only remove a small percentage of these harmful contaminants. We are promoting reverse osmosis technology because reverse osmosis has proved itself to be the ultimate and the most economical water purification method.