Toxicity of Pyrolysis Products of Vinyl Plastics

Abstract

Polyvinyl chloride polymers and formulations were pyrolyzed in a stream of air by gradually raising the temperature from ambient to approximately 600 C. The pyrolysis air stream was diluted with twice its volume of room air, and rats were exposed to it. Exposure to an air stream containing the pyrolyzed products of 1 to 2 gm of polyvinyl chloride polymer resulted in the death of 50% of the animals. Most deaths were due to carbon monoxide (CO), and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels correlated well with the amount of plastic pyrolyzed. Little histological evidence of lung damage was evident. When oxygen (O₂) was added to the air stream to prevent deaths from CO, pulmonary edema and interstitial hemorrhage developed. The lungs of some animals exposed to high levels of pyrolysis products of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer also showed focal edema and intra-alveolar hemorrhage. Polyvinyl chloride formulations, containing additives and inert materials, were in general less toxic per gram of sample pyrolyzed.