Feeling a bit depressed or vague? Next time reach for your mask before you reach for the filler tin. Styrene vapours, the major ingredient of filler, can really get you down.
According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency: ‘Styrene enters the body mainly by inhalation of air containing styrene vapours, but can also enter by ingestion of contaminated water or food or by dermal contact with styrene or substances containing styrene.
‘Inhalation of air containing styrene can affect the central nervous systems and cause symptoms including depression, headache, concentration problems, fatigue, nausea and drowsiness, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and chemical pneumonitis.
‘Dermal contact with styrene may result in skin irritation. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has designated styrene as a possible carcinogen.’
Wikipedia also says: ‘Chronic exposure to styrene leads to tiredness/lethargy, memory deficits, headaches and vertigo.’
Thanks to Brendon Meinck, panel lecturer at Polytechnic West, Perth for his curiosity which led him to Google styrene.