Hazardous styrene

Styrene is a hazardous chemical classified as ammable and toxic substance in most industrialized countries. Studies suggest that both the liver and kidney are susceptible to damage caused by repeated exposure to styrene. Styrene has been evaluated by the IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans class. Due to its neurotoxicity, repeated occupational exposure to styrene has been an issue of special concern in Scandinavian countries.

Styrene was discovered, but was not important commercially until the development of synthetic rubber at the time of World War II. Since then, styrene has become a very important and widely used chemical. At the beginning of the world annual production was million metric tons. Styrene is used primarily as an intermediate in the chemical industry. Specific uses include the monomer in production of polystyrene and styrene copolymers production of styrene butadiene rubbers and as a component of unsaturated polyester resins used in reinforced plastic applications such as containers, boats, swimming pools, car bodies, and many special products difficult to produce mechanically. It has been estimated that percent of the styrene consumed in the world is used in resins and plastics.

There is no production of styrene in Norway, but it is imported and used mainly in production of unsaturated polyester. Unsaturated polyester is produced by one plant in Norway supplying the Norwegian market with about percent of the unsaturated polyester consumed. The annual consumption varies for the it is estimated to be tons. The general public is exposed to very low concentrations of styrene in ambient air, indoor air, and drinking water. In industrial processes workers may come into contact with the chemical in the liquid or vapor phase. Occupational exposures may occur a during styrene monomer production, during plastic fabrication, while transporting and handling liquid styrene, while using latex paints or polyester putty, or d as a result of thermal decomposition of styrene plastics.