Styrene

At present it is impossible to imagine sewer renovations by means of UP and vinyl ester resins without styrene. No genuine alternatives could be found despite intensive development work by resin manufacturers.

Despite the sporadic discussions about styrene, UP resins have established themselves in sewer renovations with a market share of over 90%. Over the past 16 years, all of the storms about the alleged risks of styrene for humans and the environment have passed us by with no significant effects.

What a lot of people don´t know is that styrene is I not just made from petrochemicals, e.g. for use in plastics, lacquers or rubber, but is also a natural material!

Traces of natural styrene can be found in coffee, kiwis, strawberries, grapes, wine or beer, for example. Styrene is also a pyrolysis product that can be found in cigarette smoke: a heavy smoker takes in around 1.6 mg of styrene each day.

Not many chemicals have been investigated as intensively and thoroughly as styrene! Nevertheless, up to now there has been no noticeable increase in fatalities, the contraction of cancer or the development of allergies in studies performed with rats and humans.

Conclusion: If the UP resin and liner are handled correctly, styrene is no problem with respect to occupational medicine and eco-toxicology!