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<p>Public Health England (PHE) does not hold specific information on pollutants emitted
by the combustion of plastics other than monitoring information provided to it in
relation to incidents involving the combustion of plastics, such as fires at centres
storing plastics intended for recycling.</p><p> </p><p>PHE, previously as the Health
Protection Agency, reviewed the evidence on the products of combustion from fires
in general including, but not specifically involving plastics. This advice can be
viewed at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/combustion-products-a-toxicological-review"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/combustion-products-a-toxicological-review</a></p><p>
</p><p>The combustion of plastic material can release various substances that are
potentially harmful to health, for example, asphyxiant gases e.g. carbon monoxide,
irritant gases e.g. hydrogen chloride and phosgene, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins
(PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), phosphorous oxides and particulate
matter.</p><p> </p><p>Prediction of the formation toxic combustion products from plastics
and risk to health would depend on many factors, such as the type of plastic, combustion
conditions (temperature, oxygen availability etc), chemicals released, concentrations
and duration of exposure.</p>
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