- Author
- Paabo, M. | Levin, B. C.
- Title
- Literature Review of the Chemical Nature and Toxicity of the Decomposition Products of Polyethylenes.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- Fire and Materials, Vol. 11, No. 2, 55-70, June 1987
- Sponsor
- Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD
- Report
- NBSIR 85-3268, January 1986, 68 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- NBS-753-1386
- Keywords
- combustion products | literature reviews | polyethylenes | thermal decomposition | toxicity
- Identifiers
- toxicity
- Abstract
- The literature on polyethylenes has been reviewed with an emphasis on the identification of gaseous products generated under various thermal decomposition conditions and the toxicity of those products. This review is limited to publications in English through 1984. The analytical chemical studies of the thermal decomposition products generated under vacuum, inert and oxidative experimental conditions are described. In oxidative atmospheres, which most closely simulate real fire conditions, carbon monoxide (CO) was found to be the predominant toxicant. Acrolein was another toxicant often noted in these reviewed studies. More acrolein was generated under non-flaming than under flaming conditions.