'Plastic fires' create new hazards for both firemen and public
Carbon monoxide has been getting a bum rap in the opinion of one fire department surgeon.
"It's disturbing to hear that carbon monoxide poisoning alone kills all these fire victims," Victor H. Esch, MD, says. "Sure, in any fire situation you have carbon monoxide, and many times, the victims die because of it. But more and more often it's a result of carbon monoxide and in combination with many other toxic products given off by such materials as the widely used plastics —polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride.
"It's a whole new ball game, and getting more so every year. We fill our houses with all kinds of furnishings made of synthetic materials that are a lot more flammable than wood ever was. Besides, with wood we knew what we had to deal with. With plastics—not a chance.
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