STYRENE
Overview
CAS number
100-42-5
Functional Class
Food Contaminant
CONTAMINANT
CONTAMINANT
Evaluations
Evaluation year: 1984
Comments:
The available data indicate that styrene may have carcinogenic activity in mice; however, styrene has not demonstrated carcinogenic activity in rats or in humans. On the basis of the lack of evidence of carcinogenicity from epidemiology studies, the Committee considered it appropriate to establish a PMTDI of 0.04 mg/kg bw/d for styrene based on the NOEL of 7.7 mg/kg bw/d from a 2-year drinking water study in Sprague-Dawley rats. This PMTDI is provisionally acceptable on the condition that the amount of the substance migrating into food is reduced to the lowest level technologically attainable.
Intake:
0.004 mg/d from migration from food packaging
Tolerable Intake:
PMTDI 0.04 mg/kg bw/d
Meeting:
28
Report:
Tox Monograph:
Toxicological study
Pivotal Study:
Chronic drinking water study in Sprague-Dawley rats (Chemical Manufacturers Association, 1980): Sprague-Dawley rats (50-106/sex/group) were administered styrene in the drinking water at 125 and 250 ppm, resulting in intakes of 7.7 and 14 mg/kg b.w./day (males) and 12 and 21 mg/kg b.w./day (females). The only effects noted were decreased terminal bodyweights in high dosage females. Styrene did not produce either gross or histological changes, nor was there apparent styrene-related increase in tumor incidence.
Animal Specie:
Rat
Effect:
Decreased bodyweight, females
NOEL:
7.7-14 mg/kg/d
PMTDI:
0.04 mg/kg bw/d
Point of departure:
7.7 mg/kg bw/d