POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) AND MUTAGENICITY OF SOOT PARTICULATES IN AIR EMISSIONS FROM 2-STAGE INCINERATION OF POLYSTYRENE

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and mutagenicity of particulates from incineration of polystyrene were analyzed by GC/MSD and TA-98 Ames test, respectively. The results of this investigation indicate that a critical temperature exists of 1000-degrees-C-1100-degrees-C in the stage-two incinerator for the formation of PAHs and soot particulates. The major precursor of PAHs formation (i.e., C6H6) is produced in large amounts in nitrogen atmosphere when the stage-two temperature rises to 900-degrees-C. The mutagenicity of particulates and polyurethane foam (PUF) extracts increased as the pyrolysis temperature was increased from 900 to 1200-degrees-C. The mutagenicity of PUF extracts is weaker than the mutagenicity of particulates extracts. Moreover, the mutagenicity of samples is much higher in the presence of rat liver microsomal fraction (S9 mixture) than in its absence.