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You Know Styrene

A resource for consumers, employees and communities

  • The Styrene You Know
    • What Are Styrene’s Chemical Properties?
    • What Are the Uses and Benefits of Styrene?
  • Facts About Styrene
    • Frequently Asked Questions about Styrene
  • Styrene Health & Safety
    • How Do Consumers Use Styrene-Based Products?
    • Where Is Styrene Found in the Community?
    • How Does Styrene Affect Workers?
  • Styrene & Sustainability
    • How Does Styrene Improve Product Performance?
    • How Are Styrene Products Recycled and Recovered?
  • Jobs & the Economy

The Styrene You Know

Styrene is used in such diverse products as food containers, flotation devices, and wind turbine components.

Styrene is a chemical building block that is the backbone of many familiar products, such as food containers, rubber tires, building insulation, carpet backing, and reinforced fiberglass composites such as boat hulls, surfboards, residential kitchen countertops, bathtubs, and shower enclosures.

Styrene is found naturally in a number of foods, including cinnamon, strawberries, and nuts. And for more than 70 years, synthetic styrene has been produced from natural gas and petroleum by-products for use in making thousands of consumer products.

Because styrene occurs naturally and is a commercially important raw material, nearly everyone encounters styrene in some form every day. In fact, you’ve likely already used several styrene-based products today.

Did you know?

In addition to being made commercially for hundreds of important uses, very low levels of styrene occur naturally in certain foods, such as strawberries, cinnamon, beef, coffee beans, and nuts. It is also found naturally in other foods and beverages, including cheese, wine, and beer. It should come as no surprise that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration permits polystyrene plastic containers—made from styrene—for food-contact uses.

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Styrene Information & Research Center
400 E Joppa Road, Suite 108
Towson, MD 21286
202-787-5996

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In North America, the Styrene Information & Research Center (SIRC) serves as a resource for industry, federal and state governments, and international agencies on issues related to the potential impact of exposure to styrene on human health and the environment.

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