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Toxicity of polymethylmethacrylate thermodegradation products

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Abstract

Polymethylmethacrylate was thermally degraded in air at 300° C and the volatile decomposition products studied with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main product was monomeric methacrylate, although many other compounds existed among the products. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed the presence of free radicals. Wistar rats were exposed to the fumes of the plastic (300° C) and their lungs and brain studied for biochemical effects. In the lung, the activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase decreased and an initial inhibition of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase was observed. The contents of reduced nonprotein sulfhydryl groups were decreased in the lung and brain. The exposures enhanced the activities of acetylcholine esterase, creatine kinase and NADPH-diaphorase in the brain. Scanning electron microscopy of the exposed lungs showed disorganization of ciliated cells, and the epithelial serous cells (Clara cells) were damaged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Occupational Health, SF-00290, Helsinki 29, Finland

    Sinikka Vainiotalo, Antti Zitting, Juha Nickels, Heimo Koskinen & Heikki Savolainen

  2. Department Analytical Chemistry, University of Stockholm, S-10691, Stockholm, Sweden

    Sven Jacobsson

Authors
  1. Sinikka Vainiotalo
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  2. Antti Zitting
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  3. Sven Jacobsson
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  4. Juha Nickels
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  5. Heimo Koskinen
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  6. Heikki Savolainen
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Vainiotalo, S., Zitting, A., Jacobsson, S. et al. Toxicity of polymethylmethacrylate thermodegradation products. Arch Toxicol 55, 137–142 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346053

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346053

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