Evaluation of low exposure to styrene. II. Dermal absorption of styrene vapours in humans under experimental conditions.

Four volunteers were exposed dermally to styrene vapours within the concentration range of 1300 to 3200 mg/m3. The increase in the levels of mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids in urine after exposure was strongly noticeable. The dermal vapour absorption coefficient (alpha) was calculated: for styrene it was ca. 0.022 m3/h. It was calculated that the dermal absorption of the styrene vapours contributed about 5% to the amount absorbed in the respiratory tract under the same conditions.