II. Pathophysiology
- Styrene monomer
- Aromatic industrial solvent used to manufacture polystyrene, resins and Rubber
- Colorless, volatile, oily liquid with sweet smell
- Exposures
- Occupational exposures and transportation spill accidents
- Exposure is primarily inhalational or dermal
- Toxicity
- Neurotoxicity
- Due to metabolite Styrene Oxide
- Dopamine depletion
- Hepatotoxicity
- Due to metabolite Styrene Oxide
- Skin Injury
- Skin irritation and dermal defatting
- Neurotoxicity
III. Pharmacokinetics
- Hepatic metabolism to Styrene Oxide (an epoxide)
- Half-Life: 8 to 9 hours in blood (days in fatty tissue)
- OSHA Legal Airborne permissible exposure limit: 100 ppm averaged over 8 hour work shift
- Neurotoxicity threshold >300 ppm
- Lethal threshold >2500 ppm
IV. Symptoms
- Skin and mucous membranes (including eyes)
- Irritation
- Gastrointestinal (large ingestion)
- Respiratory (inhalational injury)
- Bronchospasm
- Pulmonary Edema
- Neurologic (>300 ppm)
- Headache
- Ataxia
- CNS depression
- Autonomic Nervous System dysfunction
- Peripheral Neuropathy (Polyneuropathy)
V. Labs
- See Unknown Ingestion
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
VI. Imaging
VII. Management
-
Decontamination
- See Decontamination After Toxin Exposure
- Remove contaminated clothing
- Wash skin with soap and water
- Activated Charcoal in recent ingestion
- Supportive Care
- Supplemental Oxygen as needed
- Bronchodilators as needed
VIII. References
- Tomaszewski (2023) Crit Dec Emerg Med 37(10): 32
- Leibman (1975) Environ Health Perspect 11:115-9 +PMID: 809262 [PubMed]
- Pahwa (1993) Vet Hum Toxicol 35(6):516-20 +PMID: 7980742 [PubMed]
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| Definition (MSH) | Derivatives and polymers of styrene. They are used in the manufacturing of synthetic rubber, plastics, and resins. Some of the polymers form the skeletal structures for ion exchange resin beads. |
| Concepts | Organic Chemical (T109) |
| MSH | D013343 |
| English | Styrenes, Styrenes [Chemical/Ingredient] |
| Swedish | Styrener |
| Czech | styreny |
| Finnish | Styreenit |
| Russian | STIROLY, СТИРОЛЫ |
| Polish | Styrenu pochodne |
| Norwegian | Not Translated[Styrenes] |
| French | Styrènes |
| German | Styrole |
| Italian | Stireni |
| Portuguese | Estirenos |
| Spanish | Estirenos |
Ontology: styrene oxide (C0075351)
| Definition (NCI) | A synthetic, colorless liquid that is very soluble in water. Styrene oxide is used as a chemical intermediate in the production of styrene glycol and its derivatives, cosmetics, surface coatings and other chemicals (agricultural and biological). It is also used as a reactive diluent for epoxy resins and in cross-linked polyesters and polyurethanes. Humans in the general population may be exposed to styrene oxide by contact with contaminated air or water. It is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. (NCI05) |
| Concepts | Organic Chemical (T109) , Hazardous or Poisonous Substance (T131) |
| MSH | C013690 |
| LNC | LP34834-9, MTHU027471 |
| English | phenyloxirane, styrene 7,8-oxide, styrene oxide, Styrene Oxide, Styrene-7,8-oxide, Epoxystyrene, 1,2-Epoxyethylbenzene, 1-Phenyl-1,2-epoxyethane, 1-Phenyloxirane, Phenylethylene Oxide, Styrene-7,8-Oxide, Phenyloxirane |
