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Author
Levin, B. C. | Paabo, M. | Fultz, M. L. | Bailey, C. | Yin, W. | Harris, S. E.
Title
Acute Inhalation Toxicolgical Evaluation of Combustion Products from Fire Retarded and Non-Fire Retarded Flexible Polyurethane Foam and Polyester. Final Report.
Coporate
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
Journal
Journal of the Japan Fire Retardant Association, Vol. 83, 24-26, September 1985
Sponsor
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD
Report
NBSIR 83-2791, November 1983, 70 p.
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Contract
CPSC-1AG-74-25
Keywords
carbon monoxide | combustion products | fire retardants | heat release | hydrogen cyanides | inhalation | polyesters | polyurethane foams | toxicology | weight loss | thermal decomposition | inhalation toxicity
Abstract
The acute inhalation toxicity of the combustion products from selectd upholstered furniture filling materials with and without fire retardants was evaluated by the toxicity test method developed by the National Bureau of Standards. The five materials that were evaluated consisted of two different formulations of flexible polyurethane foam (each formulation was supplied in both a fire retarded and non-fire retarded form) and a polyester fiberfill (not fire retarded). Atmospheric concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and hydrogen cyanide in the exposure chamber were monitored throughout the thermal decomposition of the materials. In addition, time-to-ignition, rate of heat release, hydrogen cyanide generation via a two phase decomposition procedure and x-ray fluorescence measurements were performed. The LC50 (30 minute and 14 day) values did not distinguish any of the materials as being significantly more toxic than the others. In the worst case, one of the fire retarded polyurethane foams was only a factor of two more toxic than its untreated counterpart. Only the fire retarded foams and the polyester caused deaths of the Fischer 344 rats during the 30 minute exposures. Extensive weight loss and post-exposure deaths occurred after exposure to the combustion products from all the materials. Animal deaths during or following exposure to the polyurethane cannot be attributed to carbon monxoide or hydrogen cyanide alone. Deaths during exposure to the polyester combustion products appear to be more directly related to the concentations of carbon monoxide.