Microbial Degradation of Alkenylbenzenes

Alkenylbenzenes, such as α-methylstyrene,β-methylstyrene, and styrene, are produced in large quantities by the petrochemical industry (Fig. 1 ). The majority of studies have concentrated on the simplest of all alkenylbenzenes, styrene. It is a colorless, odorous liquid used both as a starting material for synthetic polymers and as a solvent in the polymer processmg industry. Airborne gaseous emissions of styrene are of particular importance because of malodorous properties of the compound and its potential toxic and carcinogenic properties. Personnel mvolved in the manufacture of glass-reinforced plastics and large-scale boat building are at the greatest risk of exposure to styrene. Although styrene is found to be cytotoxic, its major metabolite, styrene oxide, is more carcmogenic.