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How are polymers toxic?

Updated: 8/10/2023
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9y ago

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Not all polymers are toxic. Plastic for example is a polymer and is made from a non biodegradable material, however, is not toxic unless consumer. Polymers are known to increase risk of cancer, and even radiation poisoning.

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9y ago
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14y ago

"Polymer" is not a chemical, but rather a term for a very large covalent molecule made up of many repeating units. You would have to talk about specific cases of a specific polymer.

Your body contains many polymers; starch, proteins and DNA are examples of natural polymers important to life (That said, viruses attack cells using their DNA, in which case that could be considered a dangerous natural polymer). A vast majority of polymers are safe, and even most artificial polymers, such as polyethylene (one of the simplest) is safe. Most polymers are so stable the main problem is there is nothing on earth to break them down again when thrown away, causing problems with disposal of polymer materials. Those that are designed to break down are usually designed to break down into relatively safe chemicals.

Some manmade polymers have been questioned over not the polymer itself, but chemicals liberated from them over time or when burned. PVC is the main polymer of concern when polymer health issues come up. Some of it's phthalate plasticisers are believed to mimic human hormones, it's consitituent monomers are carcinogenic, and it has been blamed for some dioxin formation when incinerated.

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14y ago

when they are made, the fumes contain carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and loads of other crap. so yeah, they're quite anti-green!

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11y ago

The vast majority of polymers when burned produce toxic gases. halogenated polymers such as PVC are the worst.

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