Non-Malignant Respiratory Disease Among Workers in Industries Using Styrene—A Review of the Evidence

Details

• Journal Article:
  Am J Ind Med
• Personal Author:
  Nett, Randall J. ; Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Hubbs, Ann F. ; Ruder, Avima M. ; Cummings, Kristin J. ; Huang, Yuh-Chin T. ; Kreiss, Kathleen
• Description:
  Background
  
  Asthma and obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) cases have occurred among styrene-exposed workers. We aimed to investigate styrene as a risk factor for non-malignant respiratory disease (NMRD).
  
  Methods
  
  From a literature review, we identified case reports and assessed cross-sectional and mortality studies for strength of evidence of positive association (i.e., strong, intermediate, suggestive, none) between styrene exposure and NMRD-related morbidity and mortality.
  
  Results
  
  We analyzed 55 articles and two unpublished case reports. Ten OB cases and eight asthma cases were identified. Six (75%) asthma cases had abnormal styrene inhalation challenges. Thirteen (87%) of 15 cross-sectional studies and 12 (50%) of 24 mortality studies provided at least suggestive evidence that styrene was associated with NMRD-related morbidity or mortality. Six (66%) of nine mortality studies assessing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related mortality indicated excess mortality.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Available evidence suggests styrene exposure is a potential risk factor for NMRD. Additional studies of styrene-exposed workers are warranted.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Asthma Bronchiolitis Obliterans Humans Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Risk Factors Styrene
• Keywords:
  Asthma Bronchiolitis Obliterans Non-malignant Respiratory Disease Obliterative Bronchiolitis Occupational Asthma Occupational Lung Disease Styrene Styrol Vinylbenzene
• Source:
  Am J Ind Med. 60(2):163-180
• Pubmed ID:
  28079275
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5379121
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  60
• Issue:
  2
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c03ca7a1026b437a412092d00d8ae6a794ac83048abdd6df646c81046e6e4721553b44c65d36cb71191c9f5f9e7a21242779efbd9f84f91a30bc7af3be5ca5c2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/45001/cdc_45001_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 440.38 KB ]