Plastics combustion products

Alarie Y, Barrow SC. 1977. Toxicity of plastic combustion products. Toxicological methodologies to assess the relative hazards of thermal decomposition products from polymeric materials. NTIS PB-... 

Cyanide is naturally present in some foods and in certain plants such as cassava. Cyanide is contained in cigarette smoke and the combustion products of synthetic materials such as plastics. Combustion products are substances given off when things burn. 

The intumescent approach applied to plastics combustible product ... 

Another factor potentially affecting the market for halogenated fire retardants is the waste disposal of plastics (see Wastes, industrial). As landfiU availabihty declines or becomes less popular, two alternatives are incineration and recycling (qv). The nature of the combustion products from halogenated products requires carefiil constmction and maintenance of incinerators (qv) to avoid damage to the incinerator itself and a pubHc health problem from the exhaust. The ease of recycling used products also has a potential effect on fire retardants. 

Non-ionic surfactants used in detergents, paints, herbicides, pesticides and plastics. Breakdown products, such as nonylphenol and octylphenol, are found in sewage and industrial efffuents Products of combustion of many materials Widely used as plasticisers for PVC. Common environmental pollutants... 

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is a colorless, rapidly acting, highly poisonous gas or liquid that has an odor of bitter almonds. Most HCN is used as an intermediate at the site of production. Major uses include the manufacture of nylons, plastics, and fumigants. Exposures to HCN may occur in industrial situations as well as from cigarette smoke, combustion products, and naturally occurring cyanide compounds in foods. Sodium nitroprusside (Na2[Fe(CN)5 N0]-2H20), which has been used as an antihypertensive in humans, breaks down into nonionized HCN. 

Borates are widely used in fire retardant applications. For example, cellulose insulation products used in homes and cotton batting used in mattresses and other furnishings are typically treated with boric acid to inhibit smoldering combustion. Borates are also used as fire retardants or fire retardant synergists in plastics, rubber products, and paints, where specialized borates such as zinc borate may be used. 

Compounds containing sulfur and cyanide become a potential source of air pollution when treated with this system. A caustic scrubber may be required to capture the combustion products of these compounds if sulfur and cyanide levels are high enough to exceed health and safety or applicable air quality standards. Metals that are not particularly volatile are not likely to be treated effectively by the TDS. Plastic materials are not recommended for treatment since their decomposition products could cause plugging or foul surfaces. 

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