Open AccessHealth aspects of the curing of synthetic rubbers.
Author(s) -
David A. Fraser,
Stephen M. Rappaport
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
environmental health perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 282
eISSN - 1552-9924
pISSN - 0091-6765
DOI - 10.1289/ehp.761745
Subject(s) - natural rubber , curing (chemistry) , vulcanization , raw material , environmental chemistry , charcoal , effluent , environmental science , synthetic rubber , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , waste management , toxicology , organic chemistry , environmental engineering , biology , polymer chemistry , engineering
A commonly used tread rubber formulation was cured in the laboratory under conditions simulating vulcanization in the Bag-O-Matic press. Volatile emissions were collected on charcoal and analyzed by combined GC-mass spectrometry. The compounds identified were either contaminants present in the raw material or reaction products. Some of these compounds were also identified in charcoal tube samples collected in the atmosphere of the industrial operations. Estimates based on the loss of weight of rubber during curing were used to predict airborne concentrations and compared to the concentrations actually found. The literature of the toxicity of raw materials and effluents was reviewed, and no acute or chronic toxicological effects would be anticipated. Information concerning potential carcinogenicity was not available and could not be evaluated.