Exposure to styrene in a polymerization plant. Uptake in the organism and concentration in subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Abstract

Exposure to styrene in a polymerization plant. Uptake in the organism and concentration in subcutaneous adipose tissue. by Engström J, Åstrand I, Wigaeus E 4 (1978) 324-329. Three male employees exposed to styrene in the processing of polyester tanks were studied during a work week. From Tuesday to Friday the concentration of styrene in ambient air was measured continuously in the breathing zone. The uptake in the organism was estimated as the product of the time-weighted average of the concentration in inspiratory air, the time-weighted average of 8-h pulmonary ventilation, and the percentage pulmonary uptake. Pulmonary ventilation was measured with the Wright respirometer. Percentage pulmonary uptake was estimated on the basis of the concentrations in inspiratory and alveolar air. The amount of body fat was estimated by an anthropometric method. The concentration of styrene in subcutaneous adipose tissue was determined by gas chromatography after needle biopsy before and after the workshift on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The time-weighted average of the concentration of styrene in inspiratory air during the work week was 32-85 mg/m s , Le., below half of the Swedish threshold limit value (210 mg/m 3 ). The mean daily uptake in the organism was 193-558 mg. On Monday morning the concentration of styrene in adipose tissue was 2.8-8.1 mg/kg and on Friday afternoon 4.7-11.6 mg/kg. The concentrations were higher in the two subjects with a higher exposure of longer duration, as compared to the concentrations in the recently employed subject, who was exposed to lower concentrations in inspiratory air. Both of the two former subjects had a considerable estimated amount of body fat (27 and 41 kg). The calculated half-life of the concentration of styrene in adipose tissue after the end of exposure was 5.2 and 2.8 d for these two subjects. Therefore an elimination time of about five weeks is needed by the subject with the slowest elimination before the limit of detection (0.1 mg/kg) is reached.

Urinary styrene in the biological monitoring of styrene exposure.

“…This phenom enon suggests the existence of a body burden of styrene on Thursday. Such an accumulation of styrene during the workweek was not unexpected accordin g to pharmacokinetic data (29,30) and has also been reported earlier (7,14,31). We also observed that the intercept of the regression line of the afternoon was nearly 40% higher than that of the morning regression line.…”

Distribution and elimination of 2-[14C]-acetone in mice after inhalation exposure.

“…The elimination of these solvents from adipose tissue in man is relatively slow (1,8,9,10,11,12), a phenomenon indicating a potential risk of prolonged exposure to such lipophilic solvents. In the present study mice were exposed to acetone, as it is of interest to compare the distribution and elimination pattern of the highly water-soluble acetone (19) with those of the earlier studied lipophilic organic solvents.…”

Visual dysfunction among styrene exposed workers

“…In the work environment styrene is absorbed primarily through the lungs with a small part coming through the skin (2-3). This highly liposoluble solvent is readily distributed to the blood (4), fat tissues (4), and the membranes of every tissue and organ.…”