A review of the literature on the gaseous products and toxicity generated from the pyrolysis and combustion of rigid polyurethane foams

Paabo, Maya; Levin, Barbara C.

doi:10.6028/nbs.ir.85-3224

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Pyrolysis products of solid polyurethane foams are well described, including the release of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), carbon monoxide (CO), benzonitrile, acrylonitrile, oxides of nitrogen, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen bromide, and over 100 other compounds. 46 Pyrolysis products of polyurethane are reported to result in neurologic symptoms consistent with those in the Le Quesne study. 21,30 Many of the symptoms described in this report may also be observed in CO poisoning: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, poor concentration, confusion, shortness of breath, numbness, tingling, and ataxia.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 62%

Does diisocyanate exposure result in neurotoxicity?

Hughes¹,

Carson²,

Collins³

et al. 2014

Clinical Toxicology

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Context Diisocyanates have been associated with respiratory and dermal sensitization. Limited number of case reports, and a few case studies, media, and other references suggest potential neurotoxic effects from exposures to toluene diisocyanate (TDI), 1,6 hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and methylene diisocyanate (MDI). However, a systematic review of the literature evaluating the causal association on humans does not exist to support this alleged association.ObjectiveTo perform systematic review examining the body of epidemiologic evidence and provide assessment of causal association based on principles of the Sir Austin Bradford Hill criteria or considerations for causal analysis.MethodsA comprehensive search of public databases for published abstracts, case reports, cross-sectional surveys, and cohort studies using key search terms was conducted. Additional searches included regulatory reviews, EU IUCLID and EU Risk Assessment databases, and unpublished reports in the International Isocyanate Institute database. An expert panel consisting of physicians, toxicologists, and an epidemiologist critically reviewed accepted papers, providing examination of epidemiologic evidence of each report. Finally, the Hill criteria for causation were applied to the summative analysis of identified reports to estimate probability of causal association.ResultsTwelve papers reporting exposed populations with a variety of neurological symptoms or findings suitable for analysis were identified, including eleven case or case series reports, and one cross-sectional study. Three papers reported on the same population. Each of the papers was limited by paucity of diisocyanate exposure estimates, the presence of confounding exposures to known or suspected neurotoxicants, a lack of objective biological measures of exposure or neurotoxic effects, and lack of relative strength of association measures. Additionally, reported health symptoms and syndromes lacked consistency or specificity. No plausible mechanism of toxicity was found. Application of a predictive mathematical model for determining probability of causal association for neurotoxicity was calculated to be 21%.ConclusionThere is insufficient evidence for a causal association of neurotoxic effects and diisocyanate exposure based on lack of evidence in all categories of the Hill criteria for causality except for temporal association of reported symptoms and alleged exposure. Future reports should attempt to address more rigorous exposure assessment and control for confounding exposures.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 62%

Does diisocyanate exposure result in neurotoxicity?

Hughes¹,

Carson²,

Collins³

et al. 2014

Clinical Toxicology

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“…Those additives make it difficult, or even impossible, to carry out energy recovery. Furthermore, when high temperatures are applied PU foams can release toxic compounds and carcinogens, like carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides [ 42 ]. Polyurethanes show much higher toxicity during thermal degradation under aerobic conditions.…”

Section: Polyurethane Waste Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polyurethane Recycling and Disposal: Methods and Prospects

2020

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Growing water and land pollution, the possibility of exhaustion of raw materials and resistance of plastics to physical and chemical factors results in increasing importance of synthetic polymers waste recycling, recovery and environmentally friendly ways of disposal. Polyurethanes (PU) are a family of versatile synthetic polymers with highly diverse applications. They are class of polymers derived from the condensation of polyisocyanates and polyalcohols. This paper reports the latest developments in the field of polyurethane disposal, recycling and recovery. Various methods tested and applied in recent years have proven that the processing of PU waste can be economically and ecologically beneficial. At the moment mechanical recycling and glycolysis are the most important ones. Polyurethanes’ biological degradation is highly promising for both post-consumer and postproduction waste. It can also be applied in bioremediation of water and soil contaminated with polyurethanes. Another possibility for biological methods is the synthesis of PU materials sensitive to biological degradation. In conclusion, a high diversity of polyurethane waste types and derivation results in demand for a wide range of methods of processing. Furthermore, already existing ones appear to be enough to state that the elimination of not reprocessed polyurethane waste in the future is possible.

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“…Rigid polyurethane foams have also been extensively studied [24] and, under conditions of flaming combustion, appear to exhibit greater toxic potency than the flexible foams. The greater toxic potency of rigid polyurethane and isocyanurate foams can likely be attributed to their greater thermal stability, with the higher combustion temperatures favoring formation of higher concentrations of HCN.…”

Section: Toxic Effects Of the Combustion Products Of Polyurethane Foamsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Combustion Toxicology of Polyurethane Foams

Hartzell¹

1992

Journal of Cellular Plastics

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A review of the literature on the gaseous products and toxicity generated from the pyrolysis and combustion of rigid polyurethane foams

Cited by 8 publications

References 29 publications

Does diisocyanate exposure result in neurotoxicity?

Does diisocyanate exposure result in neurotoxicity?

Polyurethane Recycling and Disposal: Methods and Prospects

The Combustion Toxicology of Polyurethane Foams

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