Thyroid problems within workers exposed to styrene?

Introduction
Some authors have suggested the involvement of styrene in the interaction with the thyroid function, in vivo studies appear to confirm this hypothesis, epidemiological investigations are strongly required to clarify this hypothesis

Methods
The sector of fiberglass is now one of the workplaces with the highest levels of styrene contamination, as a pilot study were recruited 11 workers involved in production of fiberglass, 8 women and 3 men and 14 unexposed as controls. 
We used a questionnaire to gather both families, pathological and physiological history than work, present and past, history. All information on styrene used were collected and PPE used. Assays were carried out for blood FT3, FT4, TSH, anti TPO and antiTg.

Results
The results have shown the presence of thyroid disease for one subject, high value of TSH (12.74 vs normal range of 0.39-6.16) and antiTg and antiTPO too high. Out of range values were recorded only in the exposed workers: 2 with high antiTg, 2 with low FT4 and one with low TSH. The statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney test) showed significant differences (p<0.05) between exposed and controls for FT3 and FT4, workers had significant higher levels of FT3 and lower levels of FT4. The exposure data, both biological than environmental, were all under the exposure limit (BEI or TLV).

Discussion
These preliminary data are indicative of an interaction nonetheless require further information for understanding possible mechanisms of interaction and a larger number of the sample to obtain a greater statistical significance.