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?
