title: Exposure to styrene in fiberglass-reinforced plastic manufacture: still a problem.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the work is to define occupational exposure to styrene in fiberglass manufacture; the phase of stretching styrene resins needs some manual handling and leads workers to be exposed to styrene.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 20 workers in two companies manufacturing fiberglass, checking environmental levels and urinary concentrations of mandelic acid (MA), and phenylglioxylic acid (PGA). Workers completed a questionnaire collecting their medical history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Environmental monitoring showed some styrene concentrations higher than the threshold limit value-time-weighted average. Biological monitoring confirmed these findings and four workers had levels of urinary PGA and MA concentrations higher than the Biological Exposure Indices of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This picture confirms that, even though the risk is known and the manufacturing cycle is well-defined, workers nevertheless risk exposure. More research is needed to optimize the work processes and the protection systems to lower this risk.
authors.affiliation: INAIL, ex ISPESL Department of Occupational Medicine, Monte Porzio Catone, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Papaleo
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caporossi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cristadoro
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bastianini
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capanna
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marcellini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Loi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Battista
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D020058:Styrene; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: C009753:fiberglass; D020058:Styrene