Styrene dimers and trimers affect reproduction of daphnid (Ceriodaphnia dubia)

The endocrine disruptor activity of styrene in humans and other vertebrates appears to be negligible. However, offspring numbers were reduced in Ceriodaphnia dubia bred in polystyrene cups. Styrene dimers and trimers were found to be eluted from the polystyrene cups by hexane and methanol with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Styrene dimers and trimers at concentrations of 0.04–1.7 μg/l affected C. dubia fertility (25% reduction after seven days), suggesting that styrenes have the potential to impair crustacean populations in the aquatic environment.