Day 010 - 11 Jul 94 - Page 76


     
     1        A.  Yes.
 
     2   Q.   That is right.  It comes from Fire and Materials volume
              11, 109 to 130?
     3        A.  Yes.
 
     4   Q.   1987?
              A.  Yes.
     5
         Q.   My Lord, I do not where it is in the bundle, I am afraid.
     6        It is headed Polystyrene:  "A Review of the Literature".
 
     7   MR. MORRIS:  Number 6.
 
     8   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, I have the sheet.
 
     9   MR. RAMPTON:  One sees it is by Joshua L Gurman, Laura Baier
              and Barbara Levin dated 1987 and it was received for
    10        publication by that journal in January 1987.  It reads,
              the introduction, as follows:  "The current English
    11        literature through 1984 on the products of pyrolysis and
              combustion from polystyrenes and the toxicity of those
    12        products is reviewed.  Among 57 compounds detected by
              chemical analyses of the thermal decomposition products
    13        produced under various atmospheric conditions (vacuum,
              inert and oxidative)".   Pausing there, Mr. Lipsett,
    14        oxidative means that the environment in which the
              incineration takes place is oxygen rich, does it not?
    15        A.  You are referring to what statement?
 
    16   Q.   Vacuum is no gas, air or anything else, in the parenthesis
              in the third line?
    17        A.  Yes, OK, right.  Got you.
 
    18   Q.   I will ask you a direct question:  What does the word
              oxidative mean?
    19        A.  Oxidative means in the presence of oxygen or slight
              variation of that.
    20
         Q.   "The main volatile component is the styrene monomer.
    21        Evidence is provided that the mass fraction of styrene
              increases with furnace temperatures at least through 500
    22        degrees celcius.  At 800 degrees celcius and above, the
              concentration of styrene decreases.  In oxidative
    23        atmospheres, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxidative
              hydrocarbons are formed.  The concentrations of CO",
    24        carbon monoxide, "and CO2", carbon dioxide, "are a
              function of temperature and combustion conditions ie.
    25        greater amounts are produced in the flaming than in the
              non-flaming mode.  Eleven different test procedures were 
    26        used to evaluate the toxicity of the pyrolysis and 
              combustion atmospheres of polystyrenes.  The more toxic 
    27        environments produced under flaming conditions appear to
              be mainly attributed to CO and CO2. Incapacitating effects
    28        observed during exposures to non-flaming effluents are not
              due to CO and CO2 but rather to some other toxicant,
    29        probably the styrene monomer."
 
    30        When polystyrene is incinerated at a municipal
              incinerator, it is incinerated in the presence of oxygen?

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