Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine The EPA's Deadly Delaying Tactics Citations for PCRM's Comprehensive Report on the EPA's Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program CITATIONS Excerpts from the Hazardous Substances Data Bank: Workers in factory producing polystyrene resins, where concentration reached 200 ppm, revealed itching dermatitis in one case, and erythematous papular dermatitis of forearms in two others. [Browning, E. Toxicity and Metabolism of Industrial Solvents. New York: American Elsevier, 1965. 101]**PEER REVIEWED** 494 workers exposed to styrene were examined. Pre-CNS depressant symptoms, such as light-headedness, eye irritation, and irritation of mucous membranes were significantly more frequent in a "high" exposure group than in a "low" exposure group. A distal hypoesthesia of the legs occurred in 8.5% of the cases. The conduction velocities of both radial and peroneal nerves were less than normal in 18.8% and 16.4% of the workers, respectively. There was consistent decrement in peroneal nerve conduction velocity as the exposure to styrene exposure continued, but no such relationship was observed for radial nerve conduction velocities. [Lilis RW et al; Environ Res 15: 133-38 (1978) as cited in NAS/NRC; The Alkyl Benzenes p.331 (1981)]**PEER REVIEWED** Central and peripheral nervous system effects have been observed in styrene-exposed workers. Nerve conduction velocities were decreased, and electroencephalographic, dopaminergic, functional and psychiatric impairments have been noted. Most effects have been seen at concentrations of about 100 ppm (433 mg/cu m) styrene, although memory and neurobehavioral disturbances were seen at 10-30 ppm (43-30 mg/cu m)and above. Other studies have shown no evidence of neurotoxicity. The hearing threshold was unchanged in workers exposed to less than 150 mg/cu m (35 ppm). In a mortality study of styrene exposed workers, an increased number of deaths attributed to symptoms, senility and ill-defined conditions was ascribed to a high local registration of these conditions in comparison with national statistics. [IARC. Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer,1972-PRESENT. (Multivolume work).,p. V60 276 (1994)]**PEER REVIEWED** Populations at Special Risk: Those with central nervous system disorders, chronic respiratory disease, skin disease, kidney disease and liver disease are at an increased risk from styrene exposure. [Mackison, F. W., R. S. Stricoff, and L. J. Partridge, Jr. (eds.). NIOSH/OSHA - Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards. DHHS(NIOSH) PublicationNo. 81-123 (3 VOLS). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, Jan. 1981. 1]**PEER REVIEWED** Expectant mothers and women with ovulation and menstrual disorders should be protected from working conditions exposing them to styrene and ethylbenzene compounds. [International Labour Office. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety. Vols. Iand II. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, 1983. 2115]**PEER REVIEWED** In general, fair-skinned individuals appear to be less resistant than dark-skinned persons to the defatting and dehydrating action of styrene. [Clayton, G. D. and F. E. Clayton (eds.). Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology: Volume 2A, 2B, 2C: Toxicology. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley Sons, 1981-1982. 3315]**PEER REVIEWED** The results of this study suggest that exposure to styrene below the current Swedish permissible exposure limit of 20 ppm induces neurotoxic effects expressed as an increased number of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Twenty men exposed to styrene at a plastics factory participated. The reference group included 20 non-exposed men matched for age, working schedule and physical work load. Exposure to styrene during one workday was assessed by personal air monitoring and biological monitoring. To evaluate the physical work load the pulse (heart) rate was measured. One week before the study each man completed a neuropsychiatric symptom questionnaire containing 16 items. Also 17 questions regarding acute symptoms of local irritation and symptoms of the central nervous system were presented after the psychometric tests were performed. The tests were simple reaction time, color, word vigilance and symbol digit. A follow up with regard to the symptoms among the exposed men was done after their summer vacation about two to five weeks after their last exposure. The mean eight hour time weighted average (TWA) concentration of styrene in air measured by passive dosimetry was 8.6 ppm (range 0.04-50.4 ppm). The exposed men had significantly more symptoms than the referents although there were no significant differences for the psychometric tests. At the follow up the exposed men reported fewer symptoms. This study indicates that symptoms are earlier indicators of adverse effects than complex tests and underlines the importance of regular follow up of people exposed to styrene. [Edling C et al; Br J Indust Med 50 (9): 843-50 (1993)]**PEER REVIEWED** Probable Routes of Human Exposure: Exposure of styrene to the general population is possible by ingestion of food which has been packaged in polystyrene, by ingestion of contaminated finished drinking water, by inhalation of air contaminated by industrial sources, auto exhaust, or incineration emission, and by inhalation of smoke from cigarettes. [IARC. Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer,1972-PRESENT. (Multivolume work).,p. V60 248-9 (1994)]**PEER REVIEWED** Exposure to styrene may occur during the use of miscellaneous products containing styrene such as floor waxes and polishes, paints, adhesives, putty, metal cleaners, autobody fillers, and varnishes. [NIOSH; Criteria Document: Stryene p.18 (1983) DHEW Pub. NIOSH 83-119]**PEER REVIEWED** Consumers may be exposed to potentially high levels of styrene monomer through contact with unsaturated polyester resin products used in fiberglass boat construction and repair, and as auto body fillers and casting plastics. These products may contain styrene at concentrations of 30 to 50%. [NTP; Executive Summary: Styrene (Draft) p.8 (1985)]**PEER REVIEWED** Styrene may be absorbed into the bloodstream via all routes, including peroral administration or inhalation, percutaneous absorption, or after subcutaneous or intraperitoneal administration. In occupational settings, the pulmonary or percutaneous routes are most common. [Leibman KC; Environ Health Perspect 11: 115-19 (1975) as cited in NAS/NRC; The Alkyl Benzenes p.323 (1981)]**PEER REVIEWED** Average Daily Intake: AIR INTAKE: (Assume 0.04-1.2 ug/cu m (1); = 0.8-24 ug; WATER INTAKE: Insufficient data; FOOD INTAKE: Insufficient data. [(1) Graedel TE; Chemical Compounds in the Atmosphere p 440 Academic Press NY (1978)]**PEER REVIEWED** The following nominal daily intakes of styrene have been estimated(1): worker in reinforced plastics industry, 2 g; worker in styrene polymerization, 100 mg; living within 1 km of a production unit, 600 ug; breathing polluted urban air, 400 ug; breathing typical urban air, 6 ug; breathing indoor air, 6-1000 ug; drinking polluted water, 2 ug; cigarette smoke (20 cigarettes per day), 400-960 ug(1). [(1) IARC; IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Volume 60. Some Industrial Chemicals. 60: 248 (1994)]**PEER REVIEWED**