- Author
- Levin, B. C. | Paabo, M. | Highbarger, L. | Eller, N.
- Title
- Toxicity of Complex Mixtures of Fire Gases.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- Toxicologist, Vol. 10, No. 1, 84, February 1990
- Report
- Paper 335
- Keywords
- fire gases | toxicity | mixtures | tests | combustion products | animals | computer models
- Abstract
- A model to predict the toxic interactions of the major gases produced in fires is being developed. The objectives are 1) To determine if the toxic effects of a material's combustion products can be explained by the toxicological interactions (as indicated by lethality) of the primary fire gases; 2) To develop a bioanalytical screening test which minimizes the use of animals and which examines whether a material produces extremely toxic (based on mass) or unusually toxic (based on the combination of gases deemed responsible) combustion products; and 3) To provide data for use in computer models to predict the hazard that people will experience under various fire scenarios. The toxicity of individual gases, CO, CO2, reduced O2, HCN, and NO2 as well as various two, three and four gas combinations of these gases have been examined in Fischer 344 rats exposed for 30 min and observed for at least 14 days. The toxicity of CO, O2, and HCN was also examined as individual and combined gases in air for other exposure times (ranging from 1 to 60 min) and found to be additive. Carbon dioxide has synergistic toxicological effects when combined with any of the other tested gases. The current model also includes HCl and HBr using literature data. A physiologically-based pharmacokinetic approach to predict the rate of COHb formation is being used to examine the correlation between rats and humans.