Drinking water contamination from the thermal degradation of plastics: implications for wildfire and structure fire response
Kristofer P. Isaacson, Caitlin R. Proctor, Q. Erica Wang, Ethan Edwards, Yoorae Noh, Amisha D. Shah, Andrew J. Whelton
Abstract
Plastic pipes are susceptible to thermal degradation which can produce volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene that leach into drinking water.
Topics & Concepts
EthylbenzeneContaminationTolueneDegradation (telecommunications)BenzeneEnvironmental scienceEnvironmental chemistryBTEXXyleneWaste managementChemistryOrganic chemistryEngineeringEcologyBiologyTelecommunicationsPolymer Science and PVCFire dynamics and safety researchRecycling and Waste Management Techniques