Styrene

100-42-5

C8-H8

Plastics & Rubber

Cinnamene; Ethenylbenzene; Phenylethene; Phenethylene; Phenylethylene; Styrene monomer; Styrol; Styrolene; Vinylbenzene; [CHEMINFO] UN2055

Styrenes

Colorless to yellow, oily liquid with a sweet, floral odor; [NIOSH]

"Styrene is used extensively in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, and resins. About 90,000 workers, including those who make boats, tubs and showers, are potentially exposed to styrene." [http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/styrene/]

Liquid causes first degree burns on short exposure; [CHRIS] There is evidence that occupational exposure to styrene in high concentrations over long periods of time can cause chronic encephalopathy similar to "Painters' syndrome" caused by other organic solvents. [Sullivan, p. 1156-7] Occupational asthma confirmed by bronchoprovocation testing in 2 workers in a plastics factory; [Malo] Styrene can induce liver injury in experimental animals. [Zimmerman, p. 367] Styrene can cause defatting of skin and CNS depression. [ICSC] A 1996-99 study of 328 reinforced plastics workers in the US found that air levels have decreased substantially over the last 10-20 years. [Reference #2]

OSHA Technical Links: Styrene

Mandelic acid plus phenylglyoxylic acid in urine = 400 mg/g creatinine at end of shift; Styrene in venous blood = 0.2 mg/L at end of shift;

Insufficient data

40 ppm

100 mg/m3, Ceiling(OSHA) = 200 ppm(600 ppm is 5-min. peak in any 3 hrs.)

20 ppm

Volunteers exposed to 376 ppm for up to 7 hours experienced unpleasant subjective symptoms and objective signs of neurologic impairment [Stewart et al. 1968]. Drowsiness, nausea, headache, fatigue, and dizziness have been reported in workers exposed to 200 to 700 ppm [AIHA 1959].

6.4 mm Hg

0.01 ppm

1.9 ppm

980 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 12,000 mg/m3/4H

Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.14 ppm); The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Styrene monomer, stabilized." Flash point = 34 deg C;

Blood: fast phase = 0.5 hour and a slow phase = 13 hours; for mandelic acid, fast phase = 4 hours and slow = 25 hours; for phenylglyoxylic acid, urinary 1/2 life = 11 hours; [TDR, p. 1088]

Predictors of occupational exposure to styrene and...[Occup Environ Med. 2006] - PubMed Result

3: May ignite at ambient temperature

Yes

CNS Solvent Syndrome

Hepatotoxin, Secondary

Skin Burns

Possible Carcinogen

Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank:

• STYRENE

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Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Asthma, occupational
• Encephalopathy, chronic solvent
• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Burning Synthetic Polymers
• Plastic Composites Manufacturing

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Sculpturing plastics
• Smoking cigarettes