Is polystyrene harmful to humans: influence, rules of use

Styrene in polystyrene

According to the standards, the composition of polystyrene should not contain more than 0.05% styrene; it penetrates through the respiratory system.
The composition of the foam contains fire retardants (increase the material’s resistance to fire), plasticizers (with their help the product becomes monolithic and resistant to deformation). Fillers give expanded polystyrene the necessary level of elasticity and resistance to moisture. Their quantity and composition depend on the purpose of the material. The extruded version of the product has more positive qualities than other types.

The main substance in polystyrene foam is styrene. It is he who is considered dangerous to health. The maximum concentration of this component in the product is 0.05%. However, manufacturers do not always comply with this standard and significantly exceed it.

Styrene is a toxic substance used in the production of polymers. When directly exposed to the human body, it causes blood diseases and dysfunction of the central and autonomic nervous systems. But for such consequences a high concentration of the substance is required, although it can accumulate in the body into which it penetrates through inhalation.

The history of polystyrene foam

This widely used insulation is a plastic material filled with gas.

The characteristic color of polystyrene foam is white.
The material has high heat and sound insulation characteristics.
The structure of polystyrene foam polymer compounds includes only 2%, and 98% is air.

Foam plastic was invented by Americans back in the 19th century, but the material gained its popularity only in the 20th century. Polystyrene foam is divided into several types. It is obtained from petroleum decomposition products. During its production, a large number of harmful atoms are released. Products made from polystyrene foam can be found everywhere today.

Everyone knows that the combustion process of polystyrene foam is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, which is truly harmful to the human body. But such an aroma is released only when the material is in close proximity to the source of ignition. Expanded polystyrene itself is not capable of starting a fire.

Important! When purchasing expanded polystyrene as a building material, it is recommended to check its quality. To do this, you should ask the seller for a conclusion from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station on the safety of using the material.

Negative characteristics of polystyrene

The low vapor permeability of the material contributes to the formation of mold on the walls if installed incorrectly. The
harm to health of expanded polystyrene is obvious, but with proper use of the material it is minimized. This insulation also has other negative characteristics.

Low vapor permeability

The ability to transmit steam is an important quality for insulating materials, but polystyrene sheets practically do not possess it. Extruded material has zero vapor permeability. It has a dense structure and smooth surface. This leads to poor air exchange and the appearance of mold and mildew on the walls. In this case, the risk of developing respiratory pathologies, migraines, stomach upset, or dysfunction of internal organs increases.

Polystyrene foam, although slowly, absorbs moisture, so it is better not to use it to insulate damp rooms. When immersed in water, the sheet will absorb up to 4%. Over time, the unprotected material begins to lose its properties.

High degree of flammability

When burning, polystyrene foam releases toxic substances.
Despite the fact that the material contains fire retardants, the risk of ignition is high. After burning, the foam practically does not extinguish, therefore it contributes to the further spread of fire. In terms of flammability, this product is considered the most dangerous and has categories G3-G4.

Polystyrene is also harmful to humans because it can release toxic substances when burned. In this case, the flame is difficult to localize. In addition, the product melts, so you should not be near it in a dangerous situation. Hot drops of polystyrene, falling on other products, contribute to the spread of fire. For this reason, the material is rarely used in the manufacture of ventilated facades. However, when used under a concrete screed, the risk of fire is reduced.

Other disadvantages of polystyrene foam

This material is not always chemically inert. It deteriorates under the influence of turpentine with acetone, some paints and varnishes, and drying oil. These substances dissolve polystyrene foam. The product quickly loses its properties under the influence of direct sunlight: it becomes less elastic and durable. Other disadvantages are:

failure to protect the structure from external noise as well as air waves;
susceptibility to damage by rodents.

Expanded polystyrene can break under mechanical stress.

Extruded polystyrene foam harm or environmental friendliness

Advantages of thermal insulation material

The superiority of polystyrene foam is its cost, which will not be the last thing when deciding on the choice of material. Compared to many other heat insulators, it is the most advantageous when used from an economic point of view. Especially if you compare its undeniable advantages and compare them with its price. At the same time, polystyrene foam is a durable and elastic material, which greatly simplifies the installation process. Thus, the heat insulator is given any shape when cutting it without the help of special tools. To do this, it is enough to use a simple saw or an ordinary knife.

This material is not radioactive and non-toxic. It contains no toxic fibers. For these reasons, working with it does not pose a certain risk to human health. Expanded polystyrene can be handled during transportation, installation, operation and dismantling without the use of additional protective equipment. Touching this type of building material cannot cause irritation. The material is safe for the eyes and respiratory tract of humans or animals.

When working with the material, it is not necessary to use any protective equipment, that is, gloves, special safety glasses, special clothing, masks that provide oxygen. Thermal insulator is widely used in transport, civil, and industrial construction. Over the entire period of operation of the material, it has undergone various changes in its composition and structure. At the same time, the useful properties of the heat insulator were improved, and unnecessary ones were no longer available.

The impact of polystyrene on the environment and human health

Harmful substances affect the human nervous system.
If installed correctly, as well as with reliable protection from the influence of external negative factors, the molecular structure of the material does not change. Under normal conditions, the health hazards of polystyrene foam are minimal.

The material is safe when used in temperatures ranging from -40 to +40 degrees. If it ignites, a person experiences the following health problems:

irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, respiratory tract;
dizziness and cough;
fatal lung damage at high concentrations of styrene;
development of oncological pathologies;
dysfunction of the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.

To reduce the health hazards of expanded polystyrene, you should not use it for roof insulation. If the roof is metal, it becomes very hot under the influence of sunlight. In this case, there is a risk of styrene being released into the surrounding area.

Food containers take 80 to 400 years to decompose

If you use the product in a room with high humidity, after a while fungus will grow in the walls. It destroys the foundation and negatively affects human health. A small child will be the first to react.

When choosing expanded polystyrene, environmental friendliness is the second issue that has been discussed for several years. Many experts say that this material is harmful to the environment. The main danger lies in the following properties of the product:

Poor moisture absorption. Since the disposal of used material is not always carried out according to the rules, a huge number of floating plastic “islands” can be found in the world’s oceans.
No oxidation. As a result, there are practically no rotting processes in the insulation. Studies have shown that if the product is used correctly, it is indestructible for at least 60 years. This is of great importance for the environment, since the material accumulates in landfills and pollutes the environment.
Resistant to most solvents. This material can sit in a landfill for decades. Resistance to biodegradation causes garbage fields to grow, polluting the land.

Collecting and recycling the material is expensive and difficult. The cost of producing polystyrene from insulation is high. It is cheaper to obtain it from primary raw materials. The negative impact of a product on nature can be reduced if it is used in the production of building blocks.

We can talk for a long time about the dangers of polystyrene foam.

Most likely, scientists would give several more arguments in order to abandon polystyrene foam. We will not load you with a whole list of negative factors or complex scientific phrases. After all, even the points that we have given are enough to think about the advisability of using polystyrene foam to solve certain problems. And to understand: not in all cases it makes sense to use polystyrene foam. Especially when the task is to equip residential buildings. And even more so indoors.

Do not forget that there are many other materials on the market that can, in some cases, adequately replace polystyrene foam. And, sometimes, even surpass it in some respects.

Choose building materials wisely!

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Rules for the safe use of polystyrene

Walls where there are open sources of fire are not insulated with expanded polystyrene.
When using expanded polystyrene, harm to health in an apartment can be reduced or eliminated altogether if you follow the conditions of its installation and operation:

it is prohibited to use the material to insulate internal surfaces, especially in rooms with high humidity levels;
you should not use it when insulating metal or other types of roofs (you can when organizing ventilation);
It is allowed to install the material in places where there are no open sources of fire or there is absolutely no risk of ignition of the product;
Do not use damaged sheets.

Despite the fact that polystyrene foam is susceptible to ignition and can release toxic substances into the environment, it continues to be a popular material that retains heat in rooms. It can be used to insulate not only residential premises, but also industrial buildings and offices.

The main rule for the safe operation of the material is protection from the influence of external negative factors: wind, water, direct sunlight, and some solvents. In this case, it will serve for a long time and will not cause harm.

Conclusion

The conclusion is very simple - polystyrene foam has excellent heat-shielding properties, it is an environmentally friendly, fireproof and durable material. Most of the myths regarding this material are created by unscrupulous competitors who know full well that their products are inferior to expanded polystyrene on all counts. Friends, we urge you to check all the information regarding the materials from which your house will be built. Don't believe the myths - check!
As for the use of expanded polystyrene as insulation in SIP panels, it is worth considering that the material is covered with OSB boards, which do not let anything through and protect the inner layer of insulation from fire. Such panels are environmentally friendly and safe, they are convenient for construction and durable.

SIP panels from SIP Group meet the highest standards of environmental friendliness and safety!

Is it possible to get poisoned by foam plastic?

You can be poisoned by anything, even foods that are familiar to humans. It's hard to imagine an adult or child choking, but there is foam. Poisoning in this case can occur by inhaling harmful smoke, which is formed at high temperatures. High-quality polystyrene is a self-extinguishing material, but there are often other substances next to it that burn well, so melting of the foam is inevitable, releasing harmful substances.

Remove the victim from the burning building material area.
Unfasten and remove all constricting items of clothing - belts, ties and shirts.
Take the patient outside or provide oxygen flow into the room.

If the victim is unable to breathe or the heart function is impaired, then resuscitation must be carried out. After first aid is provided, an ambulance team must be called, which will take the patient to a hospital for further treatment.

Foam insulation pros and cons

Polystyrene foam is a material with low density - about 60% of the volume is occupied by pores. Therefore, it has many positive qualities:

high thermal insulation properties - thermal conductivity coefficient is only 0.04 W/m C;
good noise insulation parameters;
resistance to moisture, not susceptible to harmful microorganisms;
some types of material are completely vapor-tight, so they can also be used for internal insulation;
the low weight of the material greatly simplifies installation, transportation, and loading and unloading operations.

However, as often happens, the material also has its disadvantages:

easily destroyed under the influence of many technical fluids - benzenes, ketones;
when burning, most of the species emit acrid smoke, sometimes very poisonous;
The mechanical strength of the material is low, and it needs additional protection from damage.

Of course, when insulating houses with polystyrene foam, you need to take into account all the pros and cons. As, however, if you use other materials. For example, wood, which is considered environmentally friendly and natural, must be protected from rot and mold, durable metal from rust, even a concrete foundation must be protected from groundwater. And it is hardly possible to say unambiguously whether polystyrene foam is harmful, and how much more harmful it is than wood.

How to avoid mistakes when insulating a house with polystyrene foam

Insulating a house with polystyrene foam is harmful if you do not follow the technology. Developers often make completely unimaginable mistakes. Very often they simply do not understand when it is necessary to insulate the outside of a house with foam plastic or mineral wool.

Extruded polystyrene foam

The disadvantages of insulating a house with polystyrene foam are that this material practically does not allow water vapor to pass through. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the vapor permeability of the structure that it insulates. The fact is that the vapor permeability of materials in the direction from inside the room to the outside should increase, not decrease. Then water vapor will escape from the enclosing structure into the street. Below are tips for insulating houses made from various materials:

Insulation of the foundation of a house with polystyrene foam should be done from the outside, since concrete is practically not vapor-permeable. For this purpose, some manufacturers' products contain special polystyrene foam.
Insulation of brick houses with polystyrene foam is also done from the outside if the brick is used not as cladding, but as the main material. Brick also conducts water vapor very poorly.
It is better to insulate a wooden house with polystyrene foam from the inside. Otherwise, the tree, finding itself between a layer of impenetrable insulation glued on the outside and a vapor barrier mounted on the inside, will simply “suffocate” and begin to rot. Insulating a wooden house with polystyrene foam from the inside is perhaps the only exception when internal insulation is preferable to external insulation.
Insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam is done by placing insulation between the frame elements. In this case, the vapor barrier membrane is mounted between the foam layer and the inner lining of the wall.
It is advisable to insulate the roof of a house with polystyrene foam if it is built on concrete floors. But in private houses, roofs are usually built on wooden rafters. If foam plastic is used for such insulation, it is placed between the rafters, similar to the insulation of the walls of a frame house.
Sometimes combined foam and mineral wool insulation is used in a frame house. This is done in order to obtain both a heat-insulating and sound-insulating structure. In the insulating “pie”, foam plastic should be on the inside, and mineral wool should be on the outside.

If you follow these simple tips, then insulating your home with polystyrene foam will be of high quality, will help keep the house warm and will remain completely safe.

Is polystyrene foam harmful to humans?

Foam plastic has long been a fairly popular material in such areas of human activity as repair and construction. It is actively used for thermal insulation of floors, ceilings, and also for sound insulation of rooms. For the most part, its popularity is due to its low cost, light weight, accessibility from a search point of view, and some other factors. Of course, any phenomenon has both its advantages and disadvantages. It’s the latter that we’ll be talking about today.

The use of polystyrene foam is widespread in construction and renovation, as it is considered the most accessible, inexpensive and versatile insulation material.

How true is it and where did it come from? Is polystyrene foam dangerous to health?

To insulate residential premises, you should not skimp on materials and buy foreign-made foam plastic.

Similar statements appeared not so long ago. It has come to be believed that polystyrene foam has the ability to release harmful substances that can negatively affect human health. However, there are such phenomena as context and interpretation. The thing is that foam is based on a substance such as polystyrene. It includes styrene, which is considered a highly toxic element. Styrene releases harmful substances into the air, thereby harming human health. This fact has been proven by many scientific studies. But now it’s worth touching on such a concept as an acceptable norm. After all, it is clear that for toxic poisoning by something, a person will need one or another dose of a harmful substance. Just the foam contains only 0.06-0.2% styrene, which cannot negatively affect the human body. In addition, the given standards are indicators of the foam that was manufactured in the middle of the last century.

Today's foam manufacturers have reduced the styrene content to almost zero. Styrene is harmful only if its dosage in the material significantly exceeds 0.2%. What is more harmful is the “wrong” polystyrene foam, which is produced using a homemade method, without observing sanitary standards. However, one still needs to look for one, and it’s not a fact that it exists. But still, in order not to stumble upon such a phenomenon, you must carefully choose the place of purchase, and if in doubt, be sure to demand quality certificates. In addition, polystyrene foam can be harmful if it is used incorrectly, that is, not for its intended purpose, as discussed above. But no one will eat polystyrene foam? If you want to reduce the negative impact on health to a minimum, then it is better to buy foreign-made foam plastic. This is what experts advise. For non-residential premises, you can use ordinary polystyrene foam from a domestic manufacturer, but in premises where permanent residence is planned, it is better not to save.

Where did the statement about the dangers of polystyrene foam come from?

The harmlessness of polystyrene foam is confirmed by its use in food packaging.

As you can see, there is no harm from polystyrene foam to human health. Everything is not as scary as it might seem at the very beginning, and you still need to try to look for low-quality and dangerous polystyrene foam. Where then does the opinion about its harm come from? Where did they get the idea that it releases toxins? Most likely, such a myth about harm is a kind of machination of competitors. As already mentioned, many prefer to give the palm in the matter of thermal insulation to polystyrene foam. It's cheap and accessible. Perhaps, in this way, unscrupulous competitors decided to “discourage” customers from foam plastic in favor of their materials. For greater persuasiveness, several facts can be cited. So, this material was first released in the middle of the last century. Since then, not a single case of poisoning or any harm from polystyrene foam has been reported. In addition, polystyrene foam is often used in containers that come into contact with food. And there has never been a precedent for intoxication. Therefore, we can conclude that there is no harm in polystyrene foam, and if there is, then the content of toxic substances is so small that it cannot harm a person.

Advantages of expanded polystyrene

A group of scientists conducted an experiment. They built housing in the Far North entirely from polystyrene foam. People moved into it. As a result, it turned out that polystyrene foam has fairly high thermal insulation characteristics, since it consists of 98 percent air, which is an excellent thermal insulator. Thanks to these properties, polystyrene foam prevents the space covered by it from freezing.

This insulation has proven itself well when interacting with other building materials; it does not have any effect on their quality. One of the positive characteristics of expanded polystyrene is its long service life, since this insulation does not rot.

Expanded polystyrene is able to maintain its own functions without changes within the temperature range of “-60º” – “+95º” . Under such temperature conditions, it also retains its structure unchanged under minor mechanical influences and loads.

This insulation can be used for ecological balance: it is added to concrete mortar, plaster compositions, and hollow blocks. This makes it possible to increase the properties and improve the structure of the resulting material.

Additional foam fixation

After the walls of the house have already been insulated, it is recommended to further strengthen the fixation of the material.
For these purposes, a hammer drill and special fastening fittings are used - anchors with wide plastic caps, into which a metal pin is driven. When choosing the size of the fittings, you need to know that for high-quality fixation, it is recommended to recess the anchor 40 mm into the wall. If the thickness of the foam is 40 mm, the thickness of the adhesive layer is 10 mm, the length of the anchor should be 90 mm.

Step 1. It is advisable to strengthen the foam sheet with 4-5 anchors. For these purposes, holes are drilled in the insulation and the wall. The length and width of the drill should be equal to the dimensions of the fastening hardware.

Preparing foam plastic for mounting an umbrella dowel

Step 2. After drilling, plastic fittings are inserted into the holes. The anchor caps should be slightly sunk into foam plastic in order to subsequently hide them with a layer of plaster.

Fastening the dowel

Step 3. Metal pins are inserted inside the plastic anchors and driven in forcefully until they stop.

Step 4. In this manner, all sheets of foam glued to the walls are fixed.

Foam boards

We're losing money!

The results of a survey of buildings with external walls insulated with polystyrene foam show that this thermal insulation material has a number of physical and chemical features that are not taken into account by designers, builders and services responsible for the operation of buildings and structures. As a result, our country suffers large material costs. One of the typical examples, as noted by the director of the scientific center ROIS, Doctor of Technical Sciences. A.I. Ananyev, could serve as an underground shopping complex built in Moscow on Manezhnaya Square, where mistakes were made not only during the development of the project for covering the complex, but also during the execution of construction work. As a result, after just 2 years of operation, the coating had to be overhauled with almost complete replacement of polystyrene foam thermal insulation boards. The main reason for the miscalculations made is the lack of necessary information in the scientific and technical literature about the behavior of expanded polystyrene in structures and changes in its heat-shielding properties over time. This is confirmed by the wide range of service life unreasonably set by manufacturers in the range from 15 to 60 years for polystyrene foam.

At the same time, there is no officially approved method for determining the durability of polystyrene foam boards and enclosing structures using it.

The main obstacle in its development is the unusual behavior of polystyrene foam under operating conditions. For example, the stability of its thermophysical characteristics over time largely depends on the manufacturing technology and compatibility with other building materials in wall and coating structures. It is impossible not to take into account the influence of a number of random operational factors that accelerate the natural process of destruction of polystyrene foam. Even the behavior of polystyrene foam in a fire significantly distinguishes it from other thermal insulation materials.

It has been established that the strength of samples taken from the walls of buildings in use is somewhat lower than that of samples taken directly from the factory. At the same time, it is very difficult to assess how the density of used samples has changed due to the lack of primary data corresponding to the time the buildings were put into operation. The decrease in the strength of the samples over time of operation was more significant when the density of polystyrene foam was below 40 kg/m3. Cases have been recorded when the values of the thermal conductivity coefficients of expanded polystyrene over 7–10 years of operation of structures increased by 2–3 times. This is usually associated with a violation of technological regulations during construction work or the use of materials incompatible with polystyrene foam, as well as the use of paints containing volatile hydrocarbon compounds to repair walls.

Magazine "Construction Expert", No. 09-10 (306), 2010