Acute Inhalation Toxicological Evaluation of Combustion Products from Fire Retarded and Non-Fire Retarded Flexible Polyurethane Foam and Polyester

摘要

The acute inhalation toxicity of the combustion products from selected 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. The LC50 (30 minute and 14 day) values did not distinguish any of the materials as being significantly more toxic than the others. Extensive weight loss and post-exposure deaths occurred after exposure to the combustion products from all the materials.