Eleven people died and over 350 were admitted to hospitals after styrene monomer gas leaked from a LG Polymers chemical plant at R.R. Venkatapuram in Visakhapatnam on May 7, 2020.
The gas leak began around 3.30 a.m. in the plant, which is situated in the midst of a densely populated area. It was set up in 1961 in the area, then a suburb.
About Styrene
- Styrene is an organic compound with the formula C8H8. It is a derivative of benzene (C6H6).
- Styrene is stored in factories as a liquid, but evaporates easily, and has to be kept at temperatures under 20°C.
- It is the main raw material for synthesis of polystyrene, or (C8H8)n. Polystyrene, in turn, is a versatile plastic that is used to make parts of various appliances such as refrigerators or micro-ovens; automotive parts; and parts of electronics such as computers.
- Exposure to styrene gas affects the central nervous system.
Source: The Hindu and Indian Express
