Thursday brought a great tragedy for Andhra Pradesh as chemical gas named 'styrene' leaked in the port city of Vishakhapatnam. Eight people have died. The death toll may increase further. It was a chemical leak from LG Polymers.
Styrene is a popular gas used in the plastic engineering industry. Styrene gas is poisonous. It is also inflammable. It could have triggered explosions at the Vizag plant.
When breathed in, it attacks the central nervous system of humans. It also damages nostrils, eyes, skin and throat. It is a known carcinogen.
The immediate symptoms of styrene gas inhalation are nausea and dizziness. A person who has inhaled styrene gas needs immediate medical help. Delay can cause death.
Styrene gas also impacts the lungs and reduces the oxygen inhaling capacity, which may result in suffocation in some victims.
Styrene gas is mostly used in the production of polystyrene plastics, rubber, fibreglass, latex, resins, automobile parts, toys, polishes and a host of other items.
Sudden and short-term exposure to styrene gas causes damage to mucous membranes, irritation in eyes and some adverse gastrointestinal effects.
In the long-term, survivors of styrene gas exposure may face reproductive and developmental problems. Styrene gas is reported to be among the causes for cancers of blood and skin.