Director of the Centre for Marine Sciences at the University of the West Indies ,Professor Mona Webber explained that polystyrene is a petroleum-based plastic and is one of the chemicals that makes styrofoam. It can cause acute irritation of the skin and eyes and upper respiratory inflammation in some cases. Other sources suggest that prolonged exposure to high amounts of styrene may affect the central nervous system, causing diseases like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.