<p>A major early morning chemical leak from a polymer plant near Vishakhapatnam impacted villages in a five-km radius, leaving eleven people dead and scores of citizens suffering from breathlessness and other problems, as the Andhra Pradesh government ordered a probe into the issue.</p>.<p>The leak of styrene, a chemical used to make synthetic rubber and resins, among others, occurred in the wee hours of Thursday while people were still fast asleep.</p>.<p><strong>What is Styrene?</strong></p>.<p>It is a flammable liquid, primarily used in the production of polystyrene plastics and resins. According to the <a href="https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/chemicals-and-contaminants/styrene">US National Library of Medicine</a>, styrene is also used to make automobile parts, insulation, pipes, and is found in cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust.</p>.<p><a href="www.deccanherald.com/national/south/vizag-gas-leak-how-it-happened-834606.html"><strong>Also Read: Vizag gas leak: How it happened</strong></a></p>.<p><strong>What happens if you are exposed to Styrene?</strong></p>.<p>Exposure to styrene, also known as ethenylbenzene, vinylbenzene can affect the central nervous system (CNS), causing headache, fatigue, weakness, and depression.</p>.<p>As per the US-based Environment Protection Agency (EPA), short-term exposure to the substance can result in irritation to the eyes, skin and nose respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal issues. <br /><br />Long-term exposure to styrene can also cause cancer.</p>.<p><a href="www.deccanherald.com/national/vizag-gas-leak-live-updates-11-dead-hundreds-hospitalised-ap-cm-announces-rs-1-cr-relief-to-kin-of-deceased-834550.html"><strong>For latest updates on Vizag gas leak, click here</strong></a><br /><br />"The spread of styrene monomer vapours in the air depends on the wind speed and currently, personnel are working to neutralise the air with chemicals such as 4-tert-Butylcatechol (TBC)", a senior official of the Department of Factories told PTI.<br /><br /><strong>What is the situation in Vishakhapatnam?</strong><br /><br />The government sent a specialised CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) team of the NDRF and medical specialists to Vishakhapatnam after the news broke out.</p>.<p>As of now, 11 people have lost their lives and 20-25 people are critical due to the gas leak. Nearly 1,000 people were directly exposed to living in close proximity to the plant where the leak took place.</p>.<p><a href="www.deccanherald.com/national/vizag-gas-leak-chilling-scenes-bring-back-memories-of-bhopal-gas-tragedy-834583.html"><strong>Also Read: Vizag gas leak: Chilling scenes bring back memories of Bhopal gas tragedy</strong></a></p>.<p>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also announced an ex- gratia payment of Rs one crore each to the kin of those killed in the gas leak incident.<br /><br />LG Polymers was established in 1961 as "Hindustan Polymers" for manufacturing Polystyrene and its Co-polymers at Visakhapatnam. It merged with Mc Dowell & Co. Ltd of UB Group in 1978, according to the company's website.</p>.<p><em>(With PTI inputs)</em></p>
<p>A major early morning chemical leak from a polymer plant near Vishakhapatnam impacted villages in a five-km radius, leaving eleven people dead and scores of citizens suffering from breathlessness and other problems, as the Andhra Pradesh government ordered a probe into the issue.</p>.<p>The leak of styrene, a chemical used to make synthetic rubber and resins, among others, occurred in the wee hours of Thursday while people were still fast asleep.</p>.<p><strong>What is Styrene?</strong></p>.<p>It is a flammable liquid, primarily used in the production of polystyrene plastics and resins. According to the <a href="https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/chemicals-and-contaminants/styrene">US National Library of Medicine</a>, styrene is also used to make automobile parts, insulation, pipes, and is found in cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust.</p>.<p><a href="www.deccanherald.com/national/south/vizag-gas-leak-how-it-happened-834606.html"><strong>Also Read: Vizag gas leak: How it happened</strong></a></p>.<p><strong>What happens if you are exposed to Styrene?</strong></p>.<p>Exposure to styrene, also known as ethenylbenzene, vinylbenzene can affect the central nervous system (CNS), causing headache, fatigue, weakness, and depression.</p>.<p>As per the US-based Environment Protection Agency (EPA), short-term exposure to the substance can result in irritation to the eyes, skin and nose respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal issues. <br /><br />Long-term exposure to styrene can also cause cancer.</p>.<p><a href="www.deccanherald.com/national/vizag-gas-leak-live-updates-11-dead-hundreds-hospitalised-ap-cm-announces-rs-1-cr-relief-to-kin-of-deceased-834550.html"><strong>For latest updates on Vizag gas leak, click here</strong></a><br /><br />"The spread of styrene monomer vapours in the air depends on the wind speed and currently, personnel are working to neutralise the air with chemicals such as 4-tert-Butylcatechol (TBC)", a senior official of the Department of Factories told PTI.<br /><br /><strong>What is the situation in Vishakhapatnam?</strong><br /><br />The government sent a specialised CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) team of the NDRF and medical specialists to Vishakhapatnam after the news broke out.</p>.<p>As of now, 11 people have lost their lives and 20-25 people are critical due to the gas leak. Nearly 1,000 people were directly exposed to living in close proximity to the plant where the leak took place.</p>.<p><a href="www.deccanherald.com/national/vizag-gas-leak-chilling-scenes-bring-back-memories-of-bhopal-gas-tragedy-834583.html"><strong>Also Read: Vizag gas leak: Chilling scenes bring back memories of Bhopal gas tragedy</strong></a></p>.<p>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also announced an ex- gratia payment of Rs one crore each to the kin of those killed in the gas leak incident.<br /><br />LG Polymers was established in 1961 as "Hindustan Polymers" for manufacturing Polystyrene and its Co-polymers at Visakhapatnam. It merged with Mc Dowell & Co. Ltd of UB Group in 1978, according to the company's website.</p>.<p><em>(With PTI inputs)</em></p>