What is styrene? What to know about the toxic chemical spurring Cleves evacuation

Residents near Cleves are being urged to leave their homes Tuesday afternoon due to a rail car chemical leak, according to the Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency.

An agency spokesperson said a rail car is leaking styrene, a toxic and flammable chemical.

Here's what to know about the chemical and its harmful health effects.

What is styrene?

Styrene is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

What is styrene used for?

The major uses of styrene include making plastics, synthetic rubbers and latex paints, according to this report posted at the National Library of Medicine web site. It's manufactured into a range of automotive, construction and household products like insulation, pipes, automobile parts, printing cartridges, food containers and carpet backing.

Is styrene dangerous?

Styrene is flammable and can be fatal if it’s inhaled. Exposure to styrene can damage organs, inflame lungs and make it hard to breathe, according to previous Enquirer reporting of a 2005 styrene leak incident in Cincinnati's East End.

The chemical has been linked to cancer and it's been listed as a human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program and the National Academy of Sciences.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What is styrene? What to know about toxic chemical near Cleves