Toxicological and hygienic assessment of modern thermo-insulating polymer materials during thermal exposure

Introduction. Polyethylene and synthetic foam caoutchouc are used for thermal insulation of communications, at temperatures not exceeding 90 °C and 105 °C, respectively. Data on how these materials will behave in the appropriate temperature conditions was not be found. The purpose of the study was to conduct a toxicological and hygienic assessment of products made of polyethylene foam and synthetic foam rubber under thermal exposure. Materials and methods. The thermal effect on the studied samples was modelled in a climate chamber. The time interval during the mass loss of the samples was determined, a sanitary and chemical study of the gas-air mixture in the climatic chamber was carried out. To conduct a toxicological and hygienic study in animals, a swim-escape conditioned active avoidance response was developed. Results. Under thermal (90 °C) exposure for 72 hours to polyethylene tube, a loss of 0.77% of the initial mass of the sample occurs. Thermal exposure (105 °C) to synthetic foam caoutchouc resulted in a loss of 15.3% of the initial mass of the sample for 108 hours, while pronounced changes in the appearance of the samples were determined. When conducting a sanitary and chemical study in the climate chamber, an increase in the concentration of carbon monoxide was determined after 12, 24,  and 72 hours and hydrogen chloride after 12 and 24 hours following the onset of thermal exposure compared with the values of their average daily maximum permissible concentration. Thermal exposure to the sample and synthetic foam caoutchouc led to an increase in the concentration of ammonia, carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride 12 and 24 hours after the start of exposure compared with the average daily maximum permissible concentration. During the toxicological and hygienic study, animals exposed to thermal degradation products of the materials under study were revealed to show learning disabilities. Limitations. They are conditioned by the methodology of the study. A quantitative analysis of some gaseous thermal degradation products released into the climate chamber was performed, without taking into account the aerosols formed. Conclusion. Thermal insulation materials made of synthetic foam rubber and polyethylene foam lose their structural properties when they are operated in the maximum permissible temperature conditions (105 °C and 90 °C, respectively). When they are used in appropriate temperature conditions, the formation of toxic products occurs, the inhalation effect of which leads to a disturbances of the learning ability in laboratory animals.