| Agent Name |
Styrene |
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| CAS Number |
100-42-5 |
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| Formula |
C8-H8 |
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| Major Category |
Plastics & Rubber |
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| Synonyms |
Cinnamene; Ethenylbenzene; Phenylethene; Phenethylene; Phenylethylene; Styrene monomer; Styrol; Styrolene; Vinylbenzene; [CHEMINFO] UN2055 |
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| Category |
Styrenes |
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| Description |
Colorless to yellow, oily liquid with a sweet, floral odor; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
"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/] |
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| Comments |
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] |
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| Reference Link |
OSHA Technical Links: Styrene |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| BEI |
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; |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
20 ppm |
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| STEL (ACGIH) |
40 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
100 ppm, Ceiling(OSHA) = 200 ppm(600 ppm is 5-min. peak in any 3 hrs.) |
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| MAK |
20 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
700 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
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]. |
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| Vapor Pressure |
6.4 mm Hg |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
0.01 ppm |
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| Odor Threshold High |
1.9 ppm |
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| RD50 |
980 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 12,000 mg/m3/4H |
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| Explanatory Notes |
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; |
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| Half Life |
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] |
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| Reference Link |
International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO) |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
3: may ignite at ambient temperature |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Asthma |
Yes |
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| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
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| Neurotoxin |
CNS Solvent Syndrome |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| IARC Carcinogen |
Possible Carcinogen |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: STYRENE
|
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