MOSCOW, November 10 (Sputnik) — Styrene concentration in the air was registered 2.2 times above the acceptable level in the Kozhukhovo district of Moscow, Mosecomonitoring reported on its website.
According to the data from the automatic air pollution monitoring system "Kozhukhovo", the concentration of formaldehyde is 1.6 times higher than the acceptable level per day.
The air pollution monitoring station "Sukharevka" also registered a higher concentration of nitrogen oxide.
Styrene is a hazardous chemical and considered to be toxic, mutagenic and possibly carcinogenic.
Exposure to styrene in humans may cause weakness, sickness, dizziness and excessive tearing. A high concentration of styrene in the inhaled air is dangerous to nervous, hematopoietic and digestive systems of human organism.
There are no effective means providing 100-percent protection against styrene. The chemical is extremely volatile, so it cannot be stopped by a regular respirator. A special inhaler with a charcoal filter may be useful, as charcoal absorbs styrene.
However, styrene is very unstable and does not stay long in living organism. It suffers thermal destruction, e.g. in direct sun beams.
The emergencies service have recommended people keep windows closed and not to stay long in the open air.
