Know more about Styrene which spread in Vishakhapatnam today

Early morning chemical leak from a polymer plant situated near Vishakhapatnam created a tragedy in the radius of 5 kilometers of its spread. Eleven people died and many others suffered problems like breathlessness. A probe has been ordered in the incident.  

A chemical called styrene leaked in the wee hours on Thursday while people were still fast asleep. The gas is used to make synthetic rubber and resins apart from other things. 

Let’s know more about Styrene which leaked in Vizag today

Styrene is a flammable liquid. It is mostly used to make polystyrene plastics and resins. As per the US National Library of Medicine, styrene is also used to make automobile parts and insulation pipes. It is also found in the vehicle exhaust and cigarette smoke.

Here is what can happen if one is exposed to Styrene?

Exposure to styrene can badly affect the central nervous system (CNS). It can result in headache, fatigue, weakness, and depression. If one is exposed to the gas for a short time then it causes irritation in the eyes and skin. Short term exposure can also cause nose respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal issues.

Long-term exposure  to styrene may cause cancer.

How fast Styrene spreads?

According to a senior official of the Department of Factories “The spread of styrene monomer vapours in the air depends on the wind speed and currently, personnel are working to neutralise the air with chemicals such as 4-tert-Butylcatechol (TBC).”.

How much has been the loss till now:

As of now, 11 people have have died and around 25 people are in a critical state