Styrene: the threat, and how?

Styrene is called colourless liquid substance, having a peculiar odor, can harm human health. At the moment phenylethylene, ethylene and vinylbenzol are widely used in industry mainly in the production of polymers and synthetic rubbers. Of course, enterprises while working with these chemicals should strictly observe the safety regulations.

Styrene Production

Get this substance in special installations (performance modern can reach 150-300 thousand tons of product per year) method of dehydrogenation. The reaction, which is synthesized styrene, is classified as endothermic and proceeds at a temperature of about 600-700 degrees. This uses an iron oxide catalyst with the addition of chromium and potassium. The resulting waste is recycled in a multistage system. In violation of the technology use, or production can be a release of styrene into the environment. What this usually has consequences that will be discussed shortly. First, let's figure out what is this substance and what characteristics it differs.

Properties

So, what is the chemical — styrene? Properties are diverse. Look at them:

• Very poor solubility in water;
• Easy oxidation;
• Fast solubility in organic compounds;
• The ability to easily dissolve a polymer;
• Polymerization with the formation of a solid glassy mass;
• The copolymerization with the monomers;
• Attach Halogens.

To Get into the human body is styrene, which has a very unpleasant smell, maybe through the upper Airways and through the gastrointestinal tract. In direct contact with the liquids containing it, it can be absorbed through the skin.

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Styrene and environment

A Substance that is quite harmful and can have a negative impact on living organisms. However, styrene in the air is very rapidly degraded. Therefore, even when accidental releases much harm nature, he can not deal. In soil and groundwater styrene breaks down into its constituent substances. The same thing happens in air under sunlight.

However, in most States the maximum allowable amount of the substance emitted into the environment by businesses is regulated by law.

Rules for working with styrene

In the production of this substance and use it for the manufacture of polymers, of course, you should observe safety precautions. In most countries of the world establish maximum permissible concentrations of styrenes in those areas in which there are employees of the company. According to the rules of such workshops is recommended to equip an efficient ventilation systems. Of course, the employees of these enterprises should be careful not to inhale the vapors of styrenes and use if necessary personal protection equipment.

You Should observe safety precautions, mixing with other substances (catalysts, peroxides, additives) of the styrene. Reactions carried out with violations of the manufacturer's instructions can occur very rapidly or in an undesirable mode. Transfusion and mixing of styrenes must be carried out in separate premises specially designed for this purpose and well ventilated.

Polymerization of styrenes occurs even at room temperature. The danger of this process is that it can be accompanied by explosion. Therefore, to store this material should be in accordance with the instructions.

The dangers of styrene for the human body

Contact with this chemical can cause acute reactions poisoning and chronic disease. Almost all the organs-kidneys, liver, urinary, blood system can be affected by vapors of such substances as styrene. How dangerous this human carcinogen specifically in each of these cases in detail and will be discussed below. Styrene is considered a toxic poison action and refers to the 2 class of hazard. Fatal to humans can result in the inhalation of the air containing 10 000 mg/m³ System.

What are acute effects may cause styrene

When the vapor concentration in the air in an amount of from 420 mg/m³ people begin to show signs of irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and eyes. When high concentrations of 840 mg/m³ develop nausea, and drowsiness. Thus the victim caused all sorts of problems with the vestibular apparatus.

Genetic variation

The Mutagenic effect - another nuisance that can trap a long time breathing in styrene. How dangerous it is in this respect? According to scientists, it is possible that prolonged inhalation of vapors of styrene may lead to increased frequency of structural chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The study was conducted on workers employed in the production of polystyrene and reinforced plastics.

Effect on the playback function

Tests conducted on rodents, also make the conclusion that ingalirovanna styrene can have onliving organisms fetotoxic effects. However, the survey of women workers of the enterprises for production of styrenes, no major violations, they have not identified.

Carcinogen

Some studies have confirmed the fact that the inhalation of styrenes increases the risk of cancers of the hematopoietic and lymphatic systems of people. However, such effects may only manifest at very long (many years) exposure to fumes of such substances.

Allowable concentration

So, we considered what harm can cause to the human body styrene. How dangerous is this chemical product, you understand now. Of course, in those areas where for a long time there are people vapor concentration of this substance shall not exceed the maximum permissible limits. At the enterprises for its manufacture or for the production of polymers and rubbers should be in the air not more than:

• Working area – 30 g/m³;
• Water & ndash; 0.02 g/L.

Time-weighted average maximum allowable concentration of such substances as styrene in the air, is 10 mg/m³, average – 0.002 mg/m³ - time – 0.04 mg/m³.

Styrene in the packaging of food products

Unfortunately, this substance can enter the human body not only from the environment by emissions of the enterprises. Polystyrene and Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene are widely used for production of packaging materials intended for transportation and storage of food products. It would seem that they should be completely harmless. However, studies have revealed that the styrene-monomer is able to migrate into the food as soft and hard packs. In some cases, this substance gives food, milk or juice a bad taste.

Used styrene, which has a very unpleasant smell, and in the manufacture of household items, building materials, etc.

The dangers of polystyrene

This material is currently one of the most popular types of insulation. You can buy it at any hardware store, and it is used very widely, including in the construction of residential buildings. Meanwhile, the expanded polystyrene is very easily undergoes degradation, deteriorating over the entire period of service 10-15%. The content of the monomer in the decomposition products is not less than 65%.

In addition, the production of this insulation the polymerization of styrene is very rarely complete and uniform. This means that in the pellets there is always a residual amount of it. Therefore, the copolymers of styrene, in any case, emit noxious fumes. That the use of this insulator for insulation of residential premises from the inside is prohibited by the regulations, unfortunately, not all is known. In this case it is better to use other materials. However, you should know about the fact that the styrene is contained in an area including the foam. Since the substance is considered to be more harmful than formaldehyde, it is better to insulate the house from inside using mineral wool.

Vinyl Wallpaper

Sometimes owners do not suspect that in the finishing materials used for repair, contains styrene. How dangerous is this chemical product for a person we have found. Therefore, in what materials and household items it can be, to know, definitely worth it. For example, a small amount of this substance contained in the vinyl Wallpaper. However, unlike polystyrene, this type of finishing for walls in living rooms can be used. Under normal conditions, the styrene of the Wallpapers are released. Order in the room, covered with vinyl, got his pair, it is necessary to increase the ambient temperature is not less than 50 degrees Celsius.

ABS-plastics

Acrylonitrilbutadienstyrol represent impact-resistant resin used for the manufacture of car parts (elements manual controls, instrument panels, etc.), household equipment (vacuum cleaners, remote controls, coffee machines) and electronics (CPUs, monitors), furniture, sanitary ware, medical supplies, suitcases and even children's toys.

In a normal state, a special danger for human health all these things are not present. Styrene in its pure form begins to stand out only under the following conditions:

• Extremely high temperatures.
• In medicine when used in conjunction with a biomaterial.
• The use of such plastics for food storage. Especially unacceptable pouring in a container of such material alcohol. In this case, an effect similar to heating.

Currently, the proportion of styrene polymers, including ABS, all commodity and engineering plastics is 50%.

What to do in cases of poisoning by styrene

In that case, if the person is a long time exposed to high vapor concentration of styrene and it has the signs of poisoning, you should do the following:

• Remove person from contaminated premises to clean air.
• If unconscious or very poor condition to use an oxygen mask.
• If necessary, apply artificial respiration.
• To monitor the body temperature of the victim. It should not be increased orreduced.

If styrene gets on the skin or mucous membranes, should be copious washing with water. The procedure should be at least 15 minutes. Once complete, the victim should be required to deliver to the hospital. If the styrene suddenly get inside the body, you need to first drink a large quantity of milk or water. After that, the patient should be immediately hospitalized.

As you can see, obtaining styrene – a procedure that failure to comply with safety regulations for workers far from harmless. Therefore, performing production tasks at the enterprises, should be as careful and cautious. To be vigilant is when buying modern construction materials, and food in polystyrene containers.