STYRENE MONOMER IN FOODS A LIMITED CANADIAN SURVEY

A preliminary report of the styrene monomer content both of the package and foodstuff contained in polystyrene-related material indicated levels as high as 2,000 p. p. m. and 140 p. p. b. (wt/wt) respectively. No record of the history of these food samples or packages was available and it became clear that a wider variety of foodstuffs than those examined was available to Canadian consumers. A letter of enquiry to food packagers across Canada yielded information on the variety of foods which were packaged in polystyrene containers and they agreed to provide samples for a limited survey. Results of this study show that the monomer content of all food containers examined was well within the standards set by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration of 10,000 p. p. m. Whether or not the presence of styrene monomer in foods, at the levels reported in this communication, represent a potential carcinogenic health hazard cannot be decided until the results of chronic studies now under way are known.