Plasticizer exposure

Figure 5-6 and Tables 5-3 to 5-5 provide an introductory guide to the different thermal properties of plastics. Heat resistance properties of plastics retaining 50% of properties obtainable at room temperature with plastic exposure and testing at elevated temperatures are shown in Fig. 5-6 for the general family or group type. 

Styrene is a commercially important monomer that is used extensively in the manufacture of polystyrene resins and in co-polymers with acrylonitrile and 1,3-butadiene (reinforced plastics). Exposure to styrene occurs due to intake of food that has been in contact with styrene-containing polymers. lARC has determined that styrene is possibly carcinogenic to humans. There is no restriction on using styrene within the European Union (i.e., there is no SML). 

Pollack GM, Buchanan JF, Slaughter RL, et al. 1985a. Circulating concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and its de-esterified phthalic acid products following plasticizer exposure in patients receiving hemodialysis. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 79 257-267. 

In order to select materials that will maintain acceptable mechanical characteristics and dimensional stability one must be aware of both the normal and extreme thermal operating environments to which a product will be subjected. TS plastics have specific thermal conditions when compared to TPs that have various factors to consider which influence the product s performance and processing capabilities. TPs properties and processes are influenced by their thermal characteristics such as melt temperature (Tm), glass-transition temperature (Tg), dimensional stability, thermal conductivity, specific heat, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, coefficient of thermal expansion, and decomposition (Td) Table 1.2 also provides some of these data on different plastics. There is a maximum temperature or, to be more precise, a maximum time-to-temperature relationship for all materials preceding loss of performance or decomposition. Data presented for different plastics in Figure 1.5 show 50% retention of mechanical and physical properties obtainable at room temperature, with plastics exposure and testing at elevated temperatures. 

The Plastics Exposure Scenario Team was formed by the most important associations representing the plastics supply chain. It has produced GES that cover most of the known uses of plastics, and has translated them into REACH use descriptors . 

Plastics Exposure Scenario Team and REACH Use Descriptors... 

Long term behavior of plastics involves plastic exposure to conditions that include continuous stresses, environment, excessive heat, abrasion, and/or continuous contact with liquids. Tests such as those outlined by ASTM D 2990 that describe in detail the specimen preparations and testing procedure are intended to produce consistency in observations and records by various manufacturers, so that they can be correlated to... 

CH2=CHC = CCH = CH2. a colourless liquid which turns yellow on exposure to the air it has a distinct garlic-like odour b.p. 83-5°C. Manufactured by the controlled, low-temperature polymerization of acetylene in the presence of an aqueous solution of copper(I) and ammonium chlorides. It is very dangerous to handle, as it absorbs oxygen from the air to give an explosive peroxide. When heated in an inert atmosphere, it polymerizes to form first a drying oil and finally a hard, brittle insoluble resin. Reacts with chlorine to give a mixture of chlorinated products used as drying oils and plastics. 

When a block is inside, the entrance panel is closed and the inspection is ready to start. The inside of the stainless steel X-ray tubehead housing is clad in lead with an on/ofT shutter in front of a thin plastic X-ray window. The thin window is to ensure the IP 65 classification. The window is of plastic that is not affected by the cleaning agents. The on/off shutter is interlocked with the entrance and exit panels so X-rays can be kept on at all times without risk of radiation leakage or exposure of the frozen fish blocks prior to the actual inspection. 

In most cases the sample bottle has a wide mouth, making it easy to fill and remove the sample. A narrow-mouth sample bottle is used when exposing the sample to the container cap or to the outside environment is undesirable. Unless exposure to plastic is a problem, caps for sample bottles are manufactured from polyethylene. When polyethylene must be avoided, the container cap includes an inert interior liner of neoprene or Teflon. 

Polypropylene. Polypropylene (PP) is used ia packagiag appHcations as films and ia rigid containers. Battery cases could be considered another packagiag appHcation. Dead batteries are often collected at the poiat of sale of new batteries. In the U.S., some states have laws mandating this. Lead, acid, and plastics, particularly PP from battery casiags is recovered and recycled (3). Care must be taken to limit worker exposure to lead duting this process (44). PP is also recovered from bale wrap and other PP fabrics used for wrappiag ia the textile iadustry and from other containers (45). 

R. P. Tye and C. F. Baker, "Development of Experimental Data on Cellular Plastic Insulations Under Simulated Wiater Exposure Conditions," ia Ref 33. 

In the case of some types of polyesters, the dried treated sheet is very tacky, and must be interleaved with a plastic release film to prevent blocking in the roU prior to use. Certain polyesters and acryhcs can be converted to a gelled state by exposure to actinic radiation. 

Health and Safety Factors. Malononitrile is usually available as a soHdifted melt in plastic-Hned dmms. Remelting has to be done carefully because spontaneous decomposition can occur at elevated temperatures, particularly above 100°C, in the presence of impurities such as alkaHes, ammonium, and 2inc salts. Melting should be carried out by means of a water bath and only shordy before use. Occupational exposure to malononitrile mainly occurs by inhalation of vapors and absorption through the skin. Malononitrile has a recommended workplace exposure limit of 8 mg/m, an LD q (oral, rats) of 13.9 mg/kg, and is classified as slight irritant (skin irritation, rabbits). Transport classification RID/ADR 61, IMDG-Code 6.1, lATA/ICAO 6.1. 

Environmental Impact of Ambient Ozone. Ozone can be toxic to plants, animals, and fish. The lethal dose, LD q, for albino mice is 3.8 ppmv for a 4-h exposure (156) the 96-h LC q for striped bass, channel catfish, and rainbow trout is 80, 30, and 9.3 ppb, respectively. Small, natural, and anthropogenic atmospheric ozone concentrations can increase the weathering and aging of materials such as plastics, paint, textiles, and mbber. For example, mbber is degraded by reaction of ozone with carbon—carbon double bonds of the mbber polymer, requiring the addition of aromatic amines as ozone scavengers (see Antioxidants Antiozonants). An ozone decomposing polymer (noXon) has been developed that destroys ozone in air or water (157). 

An important property of a pigment is its ability to maintain its color when exposed to light, weather, heat, and chemicals. This property is seldom measured for pigments alone. Rather it is determined for the dispersion of a pigment in a desired medium, eg, paints or plastics, and in many cases it is compared to the performance of a standard pigment. The observed changes are the result of complex pigment and media reactions and their possible interactions. In aH evaluations, time of exposure plays a role. 

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