Seven people including a child reportedly died after toxic gas leaked from a chemical plant of a multinational firm in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam. 200 people have been admitted to hospital. Ambulances, fire engines and policemen have reached the chemical plant, NDTV reported .
Residents near the chemical gas plant of LG Polymers India Pvt Ltd in the district’s village RR Venkatapuram reported of burning sensation in their eyes and difficulty in breathing, officials said. They were immediately taken to hospital, they said.
Set up in 1961 as Hindustan Polymers, the company was taken over by South Korea’s LG Chem and renamed as LG Polymers India in 1997. The plant makes polystyrene and expandable polystyrene, a versatile plastic used to make a wide variety of consumer products like toys and appliances.
Speaking to media, RK Meena, Commissioner of Police, Vizag said that it was styrene that leaked from the plant.
What is Styrene?
Styrene is primarily used in the production of polystyrene plastics and resins. Acute (short-term) exposure to styrene in humans results in mucous membrane and eye irritation, and gastrointestinal effects.
Acute Effects
Acute exposure to styrene in humans results in respiratory effects, such as mucous membrane irritation, eye irritation, and gastrointestinal effects.
Tests involving acute exposure of rats and mice have shown styrene to have low to moderate toxicity by inhalation and oral exposure.
Chronic Effects (Noncancer)
Chronic exposure to styrene in humans results in effects on the CNS, with symptoms such as headache, fatigue, weakness, depression, CNS dysfunction (reaction time, memory, visuomotor speed and accuracy, intellectual function), and hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, minor effects on some kidney enzyme functions and on the blood.
Animal studies have reported effects on the CNS, liver, kidney, and eye and nasal irritation from inhalation exposure to styrene.
Liver, blood, kidney, and stomach effects have been observed in animals following chronic oral exposure.
Reproductive/Developmental Effects
Human studies have not reported an increase in developmental effects in women who worked in the plastics industry, while an increased frequency of spontaneous abortions and a decreased frequency of births were reported in a study on the reproductive effects of styrene in humans. However, these studies are not conclusive, due to the lack of exposure data and confounding factors.
Animal studies have not reported developmental or reproductive effects from inhalation exposure to styrene. Lung tumors have been observed in the offspring of orally exposed mice.
Cancer Risk
Several epidemiologic studies suggest that there may be an association between styrene exposure and an increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma. However, the evidence is inconclusive due to multiple chemical exposures and inadequate information on the levels and duration of exposure.
Animal cancer studies have produced variable results and provide limited evidence for carcinogenicity.
IARC has classified styrene as a Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Styrene oxide is a reactive metabolite of styrene and shows positive carcinogenic results in oral exposure bioassays. Styrene oxide has been detected in workers exposed to styrene.
IARC has classified this metabolite as a Group 2A, probable human carcinogen.
EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) does not have a carcinogen classification for styrene; the chemical currently is undergoing an EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) review to establish such a classification.
