- Author
- Birky, M. M.
- Title
- Toxicological Assessment of Combustion Products. Final Report Submitted to Products Research Committee.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Keywords
- combustion products | toxicology | measurement | mattresses | crib fires | fire tests | animals
- Abstract
- Toxicological and analytical chemistry measurements were carried out on a series of full scale or large scale fire experiments and laboratory scale fire experiments. The toxicological and analytical data were correlated within the experiments as well as between experiments. The combustion products from the large scale fires were diluted to reduce heat stress on the animals. Dilution was such that the toxicity was sublethal. However in one experiment, blood cyanide and carboxyhemoglobin levels were substantially elevated. Both the tumble cage and the hind-leg flexure animal incapacitation models were used during the experimental program. Both models have advantages and disadvantages for measuring combustion product toxicity. However the hind leg model was chosen as being more adaptable for assessing combustion product toxicity.