Toxicity plasticizers

People working plastic, toxic and glass fibre materials should wash their hands before eating, smoking or using the lavatory. Gloves should be well washed before they are removed. 

Terephthalate esters are not as compatible as phthalates with PVC and are more difficult to process. Today there is essentially only one important terephthalate plasticizer commercially available, DEHTP, as terephthalate esters of C9 and CIO alcohols have compatibility issues. The diisoheptyl terephthalate ester was shown [27] to have advantages in processabihty and plasticizing efficiency over DEHTP, but with hmited availability of isoheptanol, this product was never commercialized. The terephthalate ester based on C4 alcohols, dibutyl terephthalate (DBTP) is now commercially available for use in plasticizer blends to help improve processability [28] of DEHTP. Although DEHTP is very similar to the structure of DEHP, the structural difference yields important effects in the plasticizer toxicity profile. Extensive testing of DEHTP confirms that it is a safer product than DEHP [24]. 

Environmental Considerations. The phosphate flame retardants, plasticizers, and functional fluids have come under intense environmental scmtiny. Results pubUshed to date on acute toxicity to aquatic algae, invertebrates, and fish indicate substantial differences between the various aryl phosphates (159—162). The EPA has summarized this data as well as the apparent need for additional testing (147). 

Toxicity. The products of combustioa have beea studied for a number of plastic foams (257). As with other organics the primary products of combustion are most often carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide with smaller amounts of many other species depending on product composition and test conditions. 

The long-term effects of CECs and HCECs leaking into the environment have been discussed. Combustion where aU ceUular plastics can evolve smoke containing carbon monoxide and in certain cases cyanide and other toxic gases from various constituents involved in thein manufacture is also a consideration. 

Methyl vinyl ketone is used as a comonomer in photodegradable plastics, and is an intermediate in the synthesis of steroids and vitamin A. It is highly toxic and faciUties handling over a threshold of 100 lbs (45.5 kg) are subject to special OSHA documentation regulations (273). 

Despite the benefits of lead and lead ahoys, the use of these materials is declining rapidly, owing primarily to environmental health and safety factors. Eor many years, lead ahoys were the materials of choice for many corrosive environments, but are now being replaced by stainless steel, plastics, and exotic metals. The toxic nature of lead requires special precautions and handling not necessary with other materials. These requirements have reduced the usage of lead ahoys. 

Daylight fluorescent pigments (qv) are considered to be nontoxic. Since they are combinations of polymers and dyestuffs, the combined effect of the ingredients must be taken into account when considering the net toxic effect of these materials. Table 5 gives results of laboratory animal toxicity tests of standard modified melamine—formaldehyde-type pigments, the Day-Glo A Series, and the products recommended for plastic mol ding, Day-Glo Z-series. 

HDPE by itself is a safe plastic material on account of its chemical inertness and lack of toxicity. Consequently, film and containers made from HDPE are used on a large scale in food and dmg packaging. Moreover, HDPE has been used in prosthetic devices including hip and knee joint replacements (122). 

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). 

The widespread sales of this plasticizer are a redection of its all-around plasticizing performance and its provision of adequate properties for a great many standard products. It possesses reasonable plasticizing efficiency, fusion rate, and viscosity which, coupled with the normally competitive price, go a long way to explaining the popularity of this plasticizer. Some concerns have been periodically raised as to the possible toxicity of this material, but it can be said that these concerns are often related to the vast and widespread study of the toxicity of DEHP. 

Acute Toxicity. Plasticizers possess an extremely low order of acute toxicity LD q values are mostiy in excess of 20,000 mg/kg body weight for oral, dermal, or intraperitoneal routes of exposure. In addition to thek low acute toxicity, many years of practical use coupled with animal tests show that plasticizers do not kritate the skin or mucous membranes and do not cause sensitization. 

Liver Effects. In 1980 a 2-year feeding study carried out as part of the NTP/NCI Bioassay Program in the United States (38,39) indicated that DEHP causes increased incidence of Hver tumors in rats and mice and that DEHA had a similar effect in mice but not rats. In these studies the levels of plasticizers fed were very high, this being possible only because of thek low acute toxicity. 

Atmospheric Toxicity. The only known atmospheric toxicity effect of phthalates is the phytotoxicity arising from the use of DBP plasticized glazing bars in greenhouses. However, the higher phthalates such as DEHP are not phytotoxic. General atmospheric concentrations of phthalates are extremely low and it is concluded that they pose no risk to plants or animals. 

Mesitylene. One of the principal derivatives of mesitylene is the stericaHy hindered phenol of the stmcture shown in Eigure 4. Its trade name is Ethanox 330 and it is produced by Albemarle Corporation (formerly Ethyl Corporation) (31). Ethanox 330 is an important noncoloring antioxidant and thermal stabiHzer for plastics, adhesives, mbber, and waxes (qv) (32,33) (see Antioxidants). The oral toxicity of Antioxidant 330 is extremely low (oral LD q in rats >15 g/kg) since its large size, C H gO, effectively eliminates absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. 

Nonionic surfactants and phenoUc resins based on alkylphenols are mature markets and only moderate growth in these derivatives is expected. Concerns over the biodegradabiUty and toxicity of these alkylphenol derivatives to aquatic species may limit their use in the future. The use of alkylphenols in the production of both polymer additives and monomers for engineering plastics is expected to show above average growth as plastics continue to replace traditional building materials. 

Both urea— and melamine—formaldehyde resins are of low toxicity. In the uncured state, the amino resin contains some free formaldehyde that could be objectionable. However, uncured resins have a very unpleasant taste that would discourage ingestion of more than trace amounts. The molded plastic, or the cured resin on textiles or paper may be considered nontoxic. Combustion or thermal decomposition of the cured resins can evolve toxic gases, such as formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, and oxides of nitrogen. 

Many silver compounds are unstable to light, and are thus shipped ia brown glass or opaque plastic bottles. Silver compounds that are oxidants, eg, silver nitrate and iodate, must be so identified according to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. Compounds such as silver cyanide, which is toxic owiag to its cyanide content, must carry a poison label. However, most silver compounds are essentially nontoxic. 

A number of antioxidants have been accepted by the FDA as indirect additives for polymers used in food appHcations. Acceptance is deterrnined by subchronic or chronic toxicity in more than one animal species and by the concentration expected in the diet, based on the amount of the additive extracted from the polymer by typical foods or solvents that simulate food in their extractive effects. Only materials of insignificant risk to the consumer are regulated by the FDA for use in plastics contacted by food stuffs. 

Because of its extreme insolubiUty, barium sulfate is not toxic the usual antidote for poisonous barium compounds is to convert them to barium sulfate by administering sodium or magnesium sulfate. In medicine, barium sulfate is widely used as an x-ray contrast medium (see Imaging TECHNOLOGY X-RAY technology). It is also used in photographic papers, filler for plastics, and in concrete as a radiation shield. Commercially, barium sulfate is sold both as natural barite ore and as a precipitated product. Blanc fixe is also used in making white sidewall mbber tires or in other mbber appHcations. 

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