Styrene
Environmental Sources
Styrene is primarily a synthetic chemical. It is also known as vinyl benzene,
ethenylbenzene, cinnamene, or phenylethylene. It's a colourless liquid
that evaporates easily and has a sweet smell. It often contains other
chemicals that give it a sharp, unpleasant smell.
It dissolves in some liquids but doesn’t dissolve easily in water. A
large amount of Styrene is produced each year to make products such as
rubber, plastic, insulation, fibreglass, pipes, automobile parts, food
containers, and carpet backing. It is also a by-product of industrial
processes such as oil refineries. Low levels of styrene also occur naturally
in a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, beverages, and
meats.
Human Health effects
If you breathe high levels of styrene for a short time, you’re most likely
to experience nervous system effects such as depression, concentration
problems, muscle weakness, tiredness, and nausea, and possibly eye, nose,
and throat irritation. There is also little information on human health
effects from eating or touching styrene.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that
styrene is possibly carcinogenic to humans. Several studies of workers
have shown that breathing styrene may cause leukaemia. There is no information
on the carcinogenicity of styrene in people who swallow it or get it on
their skin.
Exposure limits
- The US EPA has determined that 0.1 part of styrene per million parts
of water (0.1 ppm) is the maximum amount that may be present in drinking
water. –
- The US EPA also requires that spills or accidental releases into the
environment of 1,000 pounds or more of styrene be reported.
- The US Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has limited
workers' exposure to an average of 100ppm for an 8-hour workday, 40-hour
workweek.
Links and sources:
www.earthtechinc.com/09.html
www.epa.gov/ttn/uatw/hapindex.html
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts53.html
www.cbecal.org/alerts/alerts_061201.htm
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