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Health Issues Surrounding Styrofoam Insulation

Styrofoam is the registered trademark for the extruded polystyrene foam used as insulation material in the construction industry. Although this material provides exceptional insulating properties, there are several health issues surrounding Styrofoam insulation. This is primarily due to the presence of certain organic chemicals used in the manufacturing of this material as well as the potential for continued exposure to trace amounts of these chemicals that remain in the finished product.

  1. Benzene

    • This organic chemical is an aromatic hydrocarbon that occurs naturally in crude petroleum and characterized as a sweet smelling, colorless liquid. It is used to synthesize ethylbenzene, another hydrocarbon that is dehydrogenated via catalyst to produce styrene, the basic component of polystyrene. It is also a known carcinogen.

    Effects of Benzene Exposure

    • According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), long-term exposure to benzene vapors is associated with several serious health risks. Chronic exposure has been linked to the development of various cancers in both humans and animals, including an increased risk of leukemia and other blood disorders. This chemical also damages bone marrow, cellular DNA and impairs immune function. Occupational studies have shown that benzene effects fertility in women by disrupting normal menstrual cycles and causing the ovaries to shrink in size. Animal studies have shown that chronic inhalation of benzene causes low birth weight and bone disorders in developing fetuses.

    Styrene

    • Although this compound is associated with health issues surrounding Styrofoam insulation because it is synthesized during the manufacturing process, it also occurs in nature. Natural styrene is obtained from the resin of a genus of trees called Styrax and also occurs naturally in some fruits, vegetables and beef in low levels. However, according to the US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration, workers engaged in the production of Styrofoam insulation that are exposed to unpolymerized styrene in concentrations greater than 50 parts per million for more than 15 minutes face a variety of health risks.

    Effects of Styrene Exposure

    • The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified this compound as a probable carcinogen, while the EPA has rated it as a suspected carcinogen. However, some studies indicate that long-term exposure to styrene may increase the risk of developing cancer and leukemia in humans. Animal-based studies suggest that chronic inhalation of styrene vapors adversely affects the respiratory system and the central nervous system, as well as impair kidney and liver function. Additional human studies have shown that long-term exposure produces muscle weakness, peripheral neuropathy, depression, and impairs cognitive functioning and memory recall.

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