Styrene in people living in Canada

Learn about human biomonitoring of styrene in Canada.

About styrene

Styrene is a volatile organic compound (VOC), a carbon-based chemical that quickly evaporates at room temperature. It is used to make:

latex
synthetic rubber
polystyrene resins

Styrene can be found in:

automobile parts
protective coatings
insulation for homes and buildings
glass fibre-reinforced resins and ion-exchange resins
a variety of plastic products, such as:
- pipes
- packaging
- disposable cups and food containers

Some plants also produce styrene, and it can be found in foods such as coffee beans, peanuts and cinnamon.

People are mainly exposed to styrene by breathing air that contains styrene from:

cigarette smoke
motor vehicle emissions
photocopiers and laser printers
industries using or manufacturing styrene
building products such as insulation and flooring

A minor source of exposure is through eating foods that naturally contain styrene, or foods in which styrene has migrated from food packaging materials.

Workers in the plastics industry may be exposed to higher levels of styrene through breathing air or by skin or eye contact with liquid styrene or resins.

Styrene is absorbed in the body after exposure. The highest levels are found in body fat. Almost all styrene breaks down into other chemicals called metabolites, which are excreted from the body in urine within 1 to 3 days.

Styrene can be measured in a blood sample. The presence of styrene in blood reflects recent exposure.

Potential health effects of styrene

Short-term exposure to styrene can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin. Studies in humans show that exposure to high levels of styrene may result in nervous system effects, including:

muscle weakness and tiredness
nausea, headaches and difficulty concentrating
hearing problems and reduced colour discrimination
altered hand-eye coordination and slower reaction times

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified styrene as possibly carcinogenic (causing cancer) to humans.

The presence of a substance in your body doesn't mean it will affect your health.

Managing styrene in Canada

We have:

identified styrene as not harmful to human health at levels normally found in the Canadian environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
established an indoor air reference level for styrene
set concentration limits and maximum emission potentials for VOCs, including styrene, in consumer and commercial products used in Canada that contribute to smog formation

Data sources for styrene biomonitoring

This page presents human biomonitoring data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). You can access more results for styrene and other VOCs in the Canadian population through the Canadian biomonitoring dashboard.

Overview of biomonitoring initiatives for blood styrene in Canada

Initiative	Collection period	Target population
CHMS	2012 to 2017	General Canadian population aged 12 to 79 living in the 10 provinces

We wish to acknowledge all participants, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, who took part in the biomonitoring study.

Results of styrene biomonitoring

Smoking cigarettes is an important source of exposure to styrene. Styrene biomonitoring results for the Canadian population are presented by smoking status. Age and sex trends are shown only for people who don't smoke cigarettes.

Levels in the Canadian population, by smoking status

Average styrene levels were higher in people who smoke cigarettes than in people who don't smoke cigarettes. From 2012 to 2017, average styrene levels decreased by 36% in people who don't smoke cigarettes.

Collection period	Smoking status	Geometric mean level (μg/L)	95% confidence interval (μg/L)
2012 to 2013	People who don't smoke	0.036	0.025–0.054
2012 to 2013	People who smoke	0.077	0.056–0.110
2014 to 2015	People who don't smoke	0.050	0.038–0.065
2014 to 2015	People who smoke	0.089	0.075–0.110
2016 to 2017	People who don't smoke	0.023	0.020–0.027
2016 to 2017	People who smoke	0.062	0.050–0.077

Levels in the Canadian population, by age group

Average styrene levels were similar across age groups.

Collection period	Age group (years)	Geometric mean level (μg/L)	95% confidence interval (μg/L)
2012 to 2013	12 to 19	0.035	0.024–0.053
2012 to 2013	20 to 39	0.039	0.025–0.060
2012 to 2013	40 to 59	0.035	0.024–0.051
2012 to 2013	60 to 79	0.037	0.024–0.057
2014 to 2015	12 to 19	0.051	0.040–0.067
2014 to 2015	20 to 39	0.050	0.038–0.067
2014 to 2015	40 to 59	0.049	0.036–0.068
2014 to 2015	60 to 79	0.048	0.038–0.060
2016 to 2017	12 to 19	0.024	0.021–0.028
2016 to 2017	20 to 39	0.022	0.018–0.026
2016 to 2017	40 to 59	0.024	0.021–0.028
2016 to 2017	60 to 79	0.023	0.020–0.027

Levels in the Canadian population, by sex

Average styrene levels were similar between sexes.

Collection period	Sex	Geometric mean level (μg/L)	95% confidence interval (μg/L)
2012 to 2013	Females	0.036	0.025–0.052
2012 to 2013	Males	0.037	0.025–0.056
2014 to 2015	Females	0.049	0.040–0.061
2014 to 2015	Males	0.05	0.035–0.070
2016 to 2017	Females	0.023	0.020–0.027
2016 to 2017	Males	0.023	0.020–0.028

How to cite this page

Health Canada. 2025. Styrene in people living in Canada. Ottawa, ON. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/styrene-people-Canada.html

For more information, contact: biomonitoring-biosurveillance@hc-sc.gc.ca

Page details

2025-11-25

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