Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

Vinyl Chloride and High-Fat Diet as a Model of Environment and Obesity Interaction
Published on: January 12, 2020
[Health effects following occupational styrene exposure in the reinforced plastics industry]
Henrik Albert Kolstad1, Nielse Ebbehøj, Jens Peter Bonde
1Arbejdsmedicinsk Klinik, Aarhus Universitetshospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. henkol@rm.dk
Abstract:
This is a summary of the health risks of occupational styrene exposure based on recent reviews. We conclude about the exposure levels that there is strong evidence that styrene causes acute irritation of eyes and respiratory tract above 25 ppm, genotoxic effects above 10 ppm, and persistent nervous system effects with for instance reduced psychological performance, colour discrimination and hearing level following long-term styrene exposure above 10 ppm. There is moderate evidence of a causal association with cancer, but data are not sufficient to allow us to pinpoint specific cancers at risk or relevant exposure levels. We recommend reconsideration of the current Danish threshold limit value of 25 ppm, biological monitoring of styrene exposed workers, and epidemiological analyses of styrene exposure levels and long-term health effects among employees of the Danish reinforced plastics industry.
Related Concept Videos
Effects of Chemicals: Overview
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Toxic Reactions: Overview
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Residual Stresses
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

