Toxin

Styrene Poisoning

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Styrene Poisoning, Styrene Toxicity, Styrene Sickness, Styrene, Styrene Oxide

  • Pathophysiology
  1. Styrene monomer
    1. Aromatic industrial solvent used to manufacture polystyrene, resins and Rubber
    2. Colorless, volatile, oily liquid with sweet smell
  2. Exposures
    1. Occupational exposures and transportation spill accidents
    2. Exposure is primarily inhalational or dermal
  3. Toxicity
    1. Neurotoxicity
      1. Due to metabolite Styrene Oxide
      2. Dopamine depletion
    2. Hepatotoxicity
      1. Due to metabolite Styrene Oxide
    3. Skin Injury
      1. Skin irritation and dermal defatting
  • Pharmacokinetics
  1. Hepatic metabolism to Styrene Oxide (an epoxide)
  2. Half-Life: 8 to 9 hours in blood (days in fatty tissue)
  3. OSHA Legal Airborne permissible exposure limit: 100 ppm averaged over 8 hour work shift
  4. Neurotoxicity threshold >300 ppm
  5. Lethal threshold >2500 ppm
  • Symptoms
  1. Skin and mucous membranes (including eyes)
    1. Irritation
  2. Gastrointestinal (large ingestion)
    1. Nausea and Vomiting
  3. Respiratory (inhalational injury)
    1. Bronchospasm
    2. Pulmonary Edema
  4. Neurologic (>300 ppm)
    1. Headache
    2. Ataxia
    3. CNS depression
    4. Autonomic Nervous System dysfunction
    5. Peripheral Neuropathy (Polyneuropathy)
  • Labs
  1. See Unknown Ingestion
  2. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
  • Imaging
  1. Chest XRay
  • Management
  1. Decontamination
    1. See Decontamination After Toxin Exposure
    2. Remove contaminated clothing
    3. Wash skin with soap and water
    4. Activated Charcoal in recent ingestion
  2. Supportive Care
    1. Supplemental Oxygen as needed
    2. Bronchodilators as needed
  • References
  1. Tomaszewski (2023) Crit Dec Emerg Med 37(10): 32
  2. Leibman (1975) Environ Health Perspect 11:115-9 +PMID: 809262 [PubMed]
  3. Pahwa (1993) Vet Hum Toxicol 35(6):516-20 +PMID: 7980742 [PubMed]