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Styrenedetecting-styrene

Formula: C8H8 | CAS: 100-42-5

Detecting styrene: Very small amounts of styrene may be present in products that have been manufactured with it, such as plastics. Styrene can also be released during combustion and so may be present in small quantities in vehicle exhaust emissions and tobacco smoke.

Detecting styrene for workers safety

Styrene is a flammable liquid that is used to make polystyrene plastics, fiberglass, rubber, and latex. It occurs naturally in some fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, and beverages.

Worker who are most likely to be exposed to level of Styrene are in the industries that make:

  • Insulation
  • Pipes
  • Automobile parts
  • Printing cartridges and copy machine toner
  • Food containers
  • Packaging
  • Carpet backing
  • Luggage
  • Shoes
  • Toys
  • Floor waxes and polishes

Cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust contain styrene.

Breathing air contaminated with styrene vapours can cause irritation of the nose and throat, coughing, wheezing and create a build-up of fluid in the lungs. Exposures to larger amounts can result in the onset of “styrene sickness”, the signs and symptoms of which include headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, tiredness, dizziness, confusion and clumsy or
unsteady motion (known collectively as central nervous system depression). In some cases
exposure to styrene can also result in irregular heartbeats and coma.
– Public Health England

Monitoring workplace air conditions

A large number of workers are potentially exposed to styrene. The highest potential exposure occurs in the reinforced-plastics industry, where workers may be exposed to high air concentrations and also have dermal exposure to liquid styrene or resins.

Workers involved in styrene polymerization, rubber manufacturing, and styrene-polyester resin facilities and workers at photocopy centres may also be exposed to styrene.

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Gas Factsheet

Everything you need to know about detecting styrene

Our Gas Factsheets which is available to download below provides you with key information on the exposure limits and the locations of where potentially harmful gases can occur. We also share information on gas detection monitoring techniques and equipment that can help you manage gas detection in the workplace, for worker and site safety.

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Detecting Styrene

Formula: C8H8 | CAS: 100-42-5

Synonyms: ethenylbenzene, ethenyl benzene, phenylethylene, styrene monomer, styrol, vinyl benzene

Styrene is chiefly used in the manufacture of polystyrene, with large quantities used in copolymerisation with for example butadiene and acrylonitrile, to form a number of plastic and rubber materials.

Specification Value/Information
Formula C8H8
CAS no. 100-42-5
Gas Response Factor, 11.7 eV 0.50
Gas Response Factor, 10.6 eV 0.45
Gas Response Factor, 10.0 eV 0.52
ppm per mg/m⁻³, (20 °C, 1 bar) 0.231
Molecular Weight, g/mole 104.2
Melting point, °C -31
Boiling point, °C 145
Flash point, °C 31.1
Upper Explosive Limit, % 7.7
Lower Explosive Limit, % 0.97
Specification Value/Information
Density, g.cm⁻³ 0.909
Ionisation Energy, eV 8.4
EH40 TWA, ppm 100
EH40 TWA, mg.m⁻³ 430
EH40 STEL, ppm 250
EH40 STEL, mg.m⁻³ 1080
NIOSH ST, ppm 100
NIOSH TWA REL, ppm 50
NIOSH ST, mg.m⁻³ 425
NIOSH TWA REL, mg.m⁻³ 215
NIOSH IDLH, ppm 700
OSHA TWA PEL, ppm 100

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