title: Combustion products from various kinds of fibers: toxicological hazards from smoke exposure.
abstract: The smoke exposure hazards during combustion of carbon and nitrogen-containing fibers were evaluated in guinea pigs intoxicated by gradual exposure to HCN and CO neo-formed from foam rubber, wool and PAN (Polyacrylonitrile). The most prominent result of our study was that the neo-formation of HCN from 1 g of PAN was 1500 ppm, much higher than from foam rubber and wool because of the presence of many -CN groups in the polymer chemical structure. This concentration of HCN is estimated to be lethal. Extrapolating this data, a lethal concentration of HCN could be obtained by burning 2 kg of PAN in an average sized living room. The above-mentioned 1 g of PAN was burned in a 15.6-liter combustion chamber.
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D005390:Fires; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D012408:Rubber / Q000633:toxicity*; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014935:Wool
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D012906:Smoke; C010504:polyacrylonitrile; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide; D012408:Rubber