Exposition au Styrène. I. Etude expérimentale de l'absorption et de l'excrétion pulmonaires sur des sujets humains.

Volunteers were exposed in a controlled environment chamber at different concentrations of styrene in order to determine the quantity and percentage of the solvent absorbed and eliminated by the lungs. As a result of these experiments, it was found that the absorption rate of styrene is constant during the exposure at a level representing 88,7 ± 3,4 % of the inspired concentration. The proportion of solvent eliminated by the lungs was only of 2,62 ± 0,85 % of the absorbed dose, while the rate of decay of alveolar concentration curves with respect to time is independent of the steady inspired concentration during exposure. Accordingly, breath decay curves can be used as a method to monitor time weighted average exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]