The absorption, blood levels, distribution, excretion, and biotransformation of styrene in man and experimental animals are briefly reviewed. The acute toxicity of styrene appears to be unrelated to its biotransformation. Reports of organ toxicity upon chronic exposure to styrene are rare; however, since the chief intermediate in styrene metabolism is an epoxide, hepatotoxicity due to covalent binding at the site of formation appears to be a possibility. Styrene may be absorbed into the bloodstream by all routes: on peroral administration or inhalation, by percutaneous absorption, or after subcutaneous or intraperitoneal administration. The most common routes of absorption in industrial exposure are pulmonary and percutaneous. The ACGIH recommended threshold limit value (TLV) is 100 ppm (420 mg/m3 of air).Blood levels of styrene that have been reported (1) in man after exposure for varying periods to air containing different concentrations of styrene are shown in Table 1. Exposures were continuous for the indicated times, except for that of 410-min duration, which was scheduled to simulate exposure for a full working day to the TLV concentration; subjects were exposed for 3.5 hr, given a 30-min lunch period, and again exposed for 3.5 hr, and blood samples were drawn 10 min before the end of the second period.
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