Styrene

Acute Toxicity: inhalation

Administrative data

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Referred in a recognized source of peer reviewed scientific data on chemicals

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Concentrations of hydrocarbons in tissues as a measure of toxicity.

Author:

Shugaev

Year:

1969

Bibliographic source:

Arch Environ Health. Vol. 18: 878-882.

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 403 (Acute Inhalation Toxicity)

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Acute Inhalation Toxicity Study (Single Exposure)
Study investigated: lethal concentrations of styrene in rats and mice

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test type:

standard acute method

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Styrene

EC Number:

202-851-5

EC Name:

Styrene

Cas Number:

100-42-5

Molecular formula:

C8H8

IUPAC Name:

ethenylbenzene

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

Study Observed:

 

 LC50 (inhalation, mice, 2-hour) =21.0 mg/L.

 LC50 (inhalation, rats, 4-hour) =11.8 mg/L.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The cut-off value for classification of substances for acute inhalation toxicity for vapours is LC50= 20 mg/L. The published data for styrene report LC50 value for rat lower than 20 mg/L.
In addition, styrene has harmonized at EU level classification and it is classified as Xn; R20 – Harmful by inhalation, in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC, and Acute Toxicity, Hazard Category 4, H332: Harmful if inhalled, in accordance with the GHS criteria of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
It is, therefore, considered that styrene is of moderate acute toxicity in experimental animals by inhalation.