STYRENE (VINYL BENZENE; PHENYLETHYLENE) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Chemical Identification
CAS #	100-42-5
Formula	C₈H₈
Synonyms	ethenyl benzene; phylethylen; styrene monomer; styrene monomer inhibited; styrol; vinyl benzene; cinnamene

Physical Properties
Physical description	Colorless to yellow, oily liquid with a sweet, floral odor.
Boiling point	293°F	Molecular weight	104.2
Freezing point/melting point	-23°F	Vapor pressure	5 mmHg
Flash point	88°F	Vapor density
Specific gravity	0.91	Ionization potential	8.40 eV
Lower explosive limit (LEL)	0.9%	Upper explosive limit (UEL)	6.8%
NFPA health rating	2	NFPA fire rating	3
NFPA reactivity rating	2	NFPA special instruction
Vapor hazard ratio (VHR)
Historical exceedance percentage
Target organs

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA
Analyte code (IMIS no.)	2280	2280
Sampling group
Sampler/Sampling media	CSC tube (100/50 mg) coated with 10% t-butylcatechol [SKC 226-73]	SKC 575-006 Passive Sampler [SKC 575-006]
Sampling time^*	240 min	240 min TWA; 15 min C
Sampling volume (TWA)^*	12 L
Sampling flow rate (TWA)^*	0.05 L/min
Sampling volume (STEL/Peak/C)^*	0.75 L
Sampling flow rate (STEL/Peak/C)^*	0.05 L/min
Analytical method instruments	GC-FID	GC-FID
Method reference	OSHA 89 (fully validated)	OSHA 1014 (fully validated)
Notes		To obtain sampling and analytical error similar to that available with active sampling, knowledge of the atmospheric pressure and temperature are required, and these should be obtained using NIST-traceable devices. If that is not possible, temperature is assumed to be 22.2 °C, and the atmospheric pressure is estimated based on the elevation of the sampling location. When estimates are used in place of traceable measurements the sampling and analytical error associated with passive sampling is substantially increased, and this makes it more difficult to demonstrate overexposures after considering the 95% lower confidence limit.
Special requirements

Bulk/Wipe Method
Wipe Sampler/Sampling media
Bulk Method

On-Site Screening Techniques
Device	Detector tube	Detector tube	Detector Tube	Detector Tube	Detector Tube	CMS Chip
Model/Type	Dräger - Styrene 10/a, 6723301	Dräger - Styrene 10/a, 6733141	Dräger - Styrene 50/a, CH27601	Gastec 124, 124 L	Matheson-Kitagawa 8014-158S	Styrene, 2-40 ppm range
Sampling information (see manufacturer instructions)	2 to 15 strokes, approx 5-200 ppm range, uncertainty approx 33%	20 strokes, approx 5-250 ppm range, uncertainty approx 33%	2 to 11 strokes, approx 25-400 ppm range, uncertainty approx 33%	0.5 to 2 strokes (124), 1 or 4 strokes (124L); 1-1500 ppm range (124), 0.5-100 ppm range (124L); 25% for 20 to 100 ppm, 16% for 100 to 500 ppm (124), 16% for 2 to 5 ppm, 8% for 5 to 25 ppm (124L)	1 or 2 strokes, approx 1-300 ppm range

**Exposure Limits**
OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak		NIOSH REL Up to 10-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		ACGIH TLV© 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		CAL/OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak
PEL-TWA	100 ppm	REL-TWA	50 ppm (215 mg/m³)	TLV-TWA	10 ppm [2020]	PEL-TWA	50 ppm (215 mg/m³)
PEL-STEL		REL-STEL	100 ppm (425 mg/m³)	TLV-STEL	20 ppm [2020]	PEL-STEL	100 ppm (425 mg/m³)
PEL-C	200 ppm; 600 ppm (Peak) for a single time period up to 5 min in any 3 hours	REL-C		TLV-C		PEL-C	500 ppm
Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	Y
Notes: See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-2. OSHA Construction PEL is C-100 ppm (420 mg/m³) and OSHA Maritime PEL is 100 ppm (420 mg/m³) as an 8 hr TWA. See 29 CFR 1926.55 Table 1 and 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards.		Notes:		Notes: BEI®, OTO (ototoxicant)		Notes:
Health factors: See NIH-NLM PubChem.		IDLH	700 ppm
Carcinogenic classifications: IARC-2B, TLV-A3		Notes:
AIHA emergency response planning guidelines - ERPG-1/ERPG-2/ERPG-3: 50 ppm/250 ppm/1000 ppm

NOAA: CAMEO Chemicals - Styrene monomer, stabilized

NIOSH: Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Styrene

Literature References

EPA: Hazard Summary - Styrene.
ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Styrene, monomer. See annual publication for most recent information.
ANSI: American National Standard Acceptable Concentrations of Styrene. September 5, 1969.
EPA IRIS Styrene, 1993
IARC Monograph for Classification of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans, Volume 82, Styrene, 2002
Manini, P. et al.: Assessment of biotransformation of the arene moiety of styrene in volunteers and occupationally exposed workers. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 189(3): 160-169, 2003.
Morata, T.C. et al.: Audiometric findings in workers exposed to low levels of styrene and noise. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 44(9): 806-814, 2002.
Mutti, A., A. Mazzucchi, P. Rusticelli, G. Frigeri, G. Arfini, and I. Franchini. 1984. Exposure-effect and exposure-response relationships between occupational exposure to styrene and neuropsychological functions. Am. J. Ind. Med. 5: 275-286.
NTP Report on Carcinogens Styrene
NIOSH: Criteria for a Recommended Standard - Occupational Exposure to Styrene. 1983.
Zamyslowska-Szmytke E. et al.: Temporal processing disorder associated with styrene exposure. Audiol Neurootol. 14(5):296-302, 2009.