Test to Assess Toxicity
A test method to help assess the toxicity of materials when they burn has been developed by researchers at the Commerce Department’s National Bureau of Standards. Since most fire deaths are due to smoke inhalation or hot gases, those concerned about the toxicity of these inhalants have been trying to devise a test method for learning what is given off and in what amounts. The research group consists of representatives from about 20 industrial, academic and governmental research organizations, formed in 1977 to exchange information. Dr. Barbara C. Levin, head of the NBS combustion toxicology research group, says the test method is intended for research and preliminary screening. Besides determining how the material would react in a fire, other factors that must be included are quantity of material present, configuration, temperature at which it releases toxic combustion products, proximity of other combustibles, volume of the compartments to which the combustion products might spread, ventilation, density of and irritants in the smoke produced, ignition and combustion properties of the materials present in a fire, building occupancy and the presence of ignition sources and fire protection systems.
Rats are exposed to combustion products, remain in the combustion atmosphere for 30 minutes, and are then monitored for 14 days to check reaction. The test describes analytical and physiological measurements for detailed information. Information on the NBS report on toxicity tests is available from the National Technical Information Service, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. 20234.
