Day 007 - 06 Jul 94 - Page 47
1 the possible sources for that event?
A. Anywhere from getting it from auto emissions to
2 getting it from naturally occurring styrene in
strawberries, in coffee, in some nuts. As a matter of
3 fact, styrene is approved by the US FDA to be added to
food to as a flavouring in very small quantities.
4
Q. In small quantities. Do you know of any evidence to
5 suggest that styrene is dangerous to humans?
A. The FDA in our country I do not think would approve it
6 for ingredients to food if they felt it was dangerous, and
they do very serious studies.
7
Q. Can I just ask you about the next two paragraphs. I will
8 read them separately. "Issues surrounding polystyrene
foam food packaging disposal. The national bureau ...
9 Identified fifty- seven chemical byproducts released
during conduction of polystyrene foam during laboratory
10 tests. These findings identified a number of dangerous
cancer causing chemicals that are released when foam
11 products are burned." What did that piece of reserve
actually consider, Mr. Kouchoukos?
12 A. Now, this was a study that was done to test what
happens in a house fire when ---- Now he could have used
13 styrofoam because this was testing styrofoam and not
necessarily polystyrene foam. What happens in a house
14 when a home is insulated with styrofoam- as the insulation
burnt uncontrollably under combustion situations with the
15 house burning down.
16 Q. How does that differ from incineration of polystyrene foam
as a means of waste disposal?
17 A. Incineration implies that it is a controlled
combustion process in the presence of adequate oxygen.
18 Combustion implies that there is a lack of oxygen and you
get very incomplete combustion of the material which is a
19 big pollutant, products of incomplete combustion are.
20 Q. Does the release dangerous chemicals (I leave out words
'cancer causing') depend to any extent on the temperature
21 at which the combustion takes place?
A. Greatly.
22
Q. So, as a description of what happens in a landfill
23 incineration site, this paragraph we have looked at- is
that a fair and accurate account of what happens, or not?
24 A. It is not.
25 Q. If it has to do with the combustibility of polystyrene or
styrofoam insulation in a house fire, does it have
26 anything to do with McDonald's use of polystyrene foam for
food packaging?
27 A. I cannot imagine where it would, no.
28 Q. Then he goes on "Landfill disposal of foam products
results in the over-filling of landfills with bulky, non-
29 degrading plastics. In the environment these foam
substances do not decay and can be found on beaches and
30 littering roadsides when they are not disposed of in
landfills". Leave that for the moment. "CCHW research
