Does anyone know anything about the use of styrene as a sewer sealant. A company called Insituform is working in the street in front of my house. My whole house just reeks. My head aches. This is what an OSHA web page has to say about styrene.
Health effects from exposure to styrene may involve the central nervous system and include complaints of headache, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, malaise, difficulty in concentrating, and a feeling of intoxication. The National Toxicological Program’s (NTP) 12th Report on Carcinogens classifies it as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies styrene as a potential human carcinogen.
I talked to the worker in the street (which is completely filled with smoke, btw) He said that the smell came from heating up styrene and that it was completely harmless. I then called the water department since they must have contracted this work out. I got blown off. The woman took my name and number, but basically acted as if I were just a fusspot.
I then called my city council member's office and got pretty much the same treatment. I called OSHA and got routed to voicemail. I called the city environmental office and got a number no longer in service.
Maybe somebody here at DKos knows something about this chemical. At least I figure my complaint will fall on more sympathetic eyes. I'll get some pity.
12:00 PM PT: Update: Thanks to all who responded and especially to My Spin. It was definitely coming in through my pipes. Running water in the bathroom that almost never gets used did the trick. The smell is almost gone now.