8. Personal Protection, First Aid and Medical Treatment

8.3 First aid & Medical treatment

Acute intoxication with styrene or pTBC - symptoms and treatment

8.3.1. Eye

Can irritate the eyes. Immediately flush eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes while holding eyelids open. Transport to the nearest medical facility for additional treatment.

8.3.2. Skin

Can irritate the skin after prolonged and/or repeated contact. Remove contaminated clothing. Immediately flush skin with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, and follow by washing with soap and water if available. If redness, swelling, pain and/or blisters occur, transport to the nearest medical facility for additional treatment.

8.3.3. Inhalation

The vapour can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. After inhalation the vapour can be absorbed into the bloodstream and then cause toxic affects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and general weakness. Remove to fresh air. Do not attempt to rescue the victim unless proper respiratory protection is worn. If the victim has difficulty breathing or tightness of the chest, is dizzy, vomiting, or unresponsive, give 100% oxygen with rescue breathing or CPR as required and transport to the nearest medical facility.

8.3.4. Ingestion

May be aspirated into the lungs. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Transport to nearest medical facility for additional treatment. If vomiting occurs spontaneously, keep head below hips to prevent aspiration. Give nothing by mouth.

The ideal treatment for ingestion of small amounts of styrene is to give activated charcoal followed by a saline purge. Where excessive amounts might have been ingested, gastric lavage may be performed.

However, because of the attendant serious hazard of aspiration into the lungs, the relative dangers of aspiration as opposed to systemic absorption have to be considered. If lavage is not considered advisable, dilution with water and absorption by activated charcoal is necessary, followed by a saline purge. Observe the patient for a few days in case renal or hepatic injury develops (albuminuria, urobilinuria).

8.3.5. Contact with inhibitor

Eye:
If PTBC has entered the eyes, flush them immediately with water for 15 minutes. Obtain medical attention.

Skin:
Wash off with water immediately and use soap if available. Remove contaminated clothing immediately and wash it before re-use.

8.3.6. Sign and symptoms of prolonged exposure

Headache, fatigue, drowsiness, insommia, anorexia and weight loss, pain in limbs, nervousness, impairment of memory. Transitory EEG anomalies, immune system changes and liver damage, may be present after prolonged exposures above the exposure limit.

For further information about the health aspects of styrene please refer to Section 3 “Health Aspects”.

CEFIC
Avenue E Van Nieuwenhuyse 4
B- 1160 Brussels

Patrick Detournay
T +32 2 676 72 05
E pdt@cefic.be