Leonova D. Hygiene and toxicology of flame retardants in the safe use of polymeric materials

The toxicological and hygienic researches of 22 flame retardants, analysis of toxic combustion products of 247 fire protected polymeric materials has shown that the burning moderators that are applied to the surface of the material (mostly inorganic compounds of 3-d and 4-th classes of danger) in the in vivo experiment, showed mainly locally irritant action, allergic and, in some cases, mostly transient general toxic effect. Brominated flame retarders almost showed no acute effect (lethal concentration was not reached), whereas in the chronic experiment they turned out to be neurotocsic, acted as endocrine disruptors and affected the reproductive function of female rats. Was designed and introduced into practice a system of preventive measures, including reasonable hygienic standards in working zone for hexabromocyclododecane and decabromodyphenyloxide at the level of 10.0 and 5.0 mg/m3, respectively, and the standard in the atmosphere at the level of 0.1 and 0.05 mg/m3, respectively.