Styrene‐associated health outcomes at a windblade manufacturing plant

Abstract

Background Health risks of using styrene to manufacture windblades for the green energy sector are unknown. Methods Using data collected from 355 (73%) current windblade workers and regression analysis, we investigated associations between health outcomes and styrene exposure estimates derived from urinary styrene metabolites. Results The median current styrene exposure was 53.6 mg/g creatinine (interquartile range: 19.5–94.4). Color blindness in men and women (standardized morbidity ratios 2.3 and 16.6, respectively) was not associated with exposure estimates, but was the type previously reported with styrene. Visual contrast sensitivity decreased and chest tightness increased (odds ratio 2.9) with increasing current exposure. Decreases in spirometric parameters and FeNO, and increases in the odds of wheeze and asthma-like symptoms (odds ratios 1.3 and 1.2, respectively) occurred with increasing cumulative exposure. Conclusions Despite styrene exposures below the recommended 400 mg/g creatinine, visual and respiratory effects indicate the need for additional preventative measures in this industry.

Health effects of wind turbines in working environments – a scoping review

“…The increased occurrence of visual contrast sensitivity in the study population was also found among professionals working with styrene in reinforced plastic plants (46,47), but not among workers from a boat building plant (48). Even though styrene exposure concentrations in the investigated facility were mainly below thresholds recommended by the NIOSH or the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, health effects occurred (28). The occurrence of such serious respiratory and visual complaints due to styrene exposure in wind blade facilities stresses the crucial need for advanced worker protection (eg, respiratory protection, eye protection) (28).…”

“…Sample sizes in studies that directly examined study subjects ranged from 10-603. Response rates were high in those cross-sectional studies that reported appropriate values (73-100%) (23,25,(28)(29)(30)(31)39). Proportions of female workers varied between 0-45.1%.…”

“…After removing duplicates, for the total scoping review, 9537 titles and abstracts as well as 182 full texts were screened. Finally, 20 publications were relevant for inclusion (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41). For the title, abstract and fulltext screening of the initial MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL searches conducted on 1 February 2016, the proportion of observed agreement between the two reviewers was 0.97 and 0.90, and Cohen's kappa of 0.82 and 0.81, respectively, resulting in an almost perfect agreement for both screening phases.…”

“…The results of a recent study from the US indicated that workers from a rotor blade manufacturer who were exposed to a higher degree of styrene compared to workers with a lower degree of styrene exposure exhibited a higher risk for developing chest tightness, wheezing, nasal symptoms, asthma-like symptoms, eye symptoms, and visual contrast sensitivity (28). These workers also carried a higher risk of suffering from tritanopia compared to the general population.…”

“…In rotor blade manufacturing facilities, exposure to epoxy resin is associated with allergic skin disorders (27,(29)(30)(31)(32), while styrene exposure is connected to nasal, respiratory, and eye complaints among production workers (28). Noise from onshore wind turbines poses an increased risk for noise annoyance, sleep disorders, and lowered general health for employees (22)(23)(24)40).…”