STEPS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS TO STYRENE...

Styrene does not remain in its natural state as it enters the environment. Changes to the styrene molecule occur whether the styrene is in water or in air. When styrene is in air as used in an air/steam cured CIPP, it has a half-life of 7 to 16 hours. Half-life implies that in that amount of time one-half of the listed chemical will degrade to the next evolutionary product. Half-lives in water are quite variable depending on the nature of the stream, river or lake but generally significantly longer than in air. Styrene has a relatively low solubility in water, and a large fraction of the styrene released into water for a water-cured CIPP will volatilize into the atmosphere.1 As a result, styrene generally does not persist in water because of its biodegradability and volatility.