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On 1/8/14 7:26 PM, AusTesla wrote:> It is also somewhat derivative.
> Polycarbonate is made from the following reactions:
> Acetone + Phenol -> Bisphenol A
> Bisphenol A + Phosgene -> Polycarbonate
>
> The reason burning it is dangerous is because of the release of toxic
> Bisphenol A.
>
I don't know that Bisphenol A is am acute toxin, or if it's produced
when polycarbonate burns/decomposes.
There's concern about long term chronic exposure to Bisphenol A because
it's a endocrine disruptor. A real concern because it's so widely used.
Your largest exposure is probably from thermal printer paper, as used
in store receipts, and other similar applications (no carbon required
multipart forms, for instance)
But, for the most part, when plastics decompose/breakdown/burn, you're
getting more conventional toxic substances: Hydrogen Chloride, for
instance, Carbonyl Chloride (phosgene), formaldehyde, etc. I'm not sure
where the chlorine would come from in polycarbonate, since the Cl from
the Phosgene combines with a sodium in the synthesis reaction to form
salt, and burning salt isn't usually considered a big hazard.