The fundamental chemistry
Popular Polymers:
Polyethylene (a polyolefin)
(drainpipes, water pipes, sheeting, cable insulation)
Polypropylene (a polyolefin)
(sheeting, boards, pipes, carpets, electrical fittings, cable insulation)
Polystyrene
(sheeting, thermal insulation (foamed), electrical insulation, light fittings)
Polyurethane
(thermal insulation (foamed), adhesives, clear finishes, paint, sealants)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
(sheeting, boards, sections, window frames, pipes, flooring, wallpapers)
Some more common plastics and their associated emissions
| Polymer | Emission(s) | Common use |
| Polyester | Styrene, Dichloromethane | Fabrics |
| Epoxy | Phenol, Epichlorohydrin | Epoxide resins: filler, adhesives, paint, clear finishes, etc. |
| Polymethylmethacrylate | Acetonitrile, Acrylonitrile | Rooflights, boards, flooring, baths, paint |
| Ureaformaldehyde | Formaldehyde | Thermal insulation, electical fittings, laminates, wood adhesives |
| Melamineformaldehyde | Phenol, Formaldehyde | Laminates, electrical fittings, adhesives |
| Polysulphide | Toluene, Chloroparaffin | Sealants |
| Silicone | Xylene | Sealants, electrical insulation |
| Styrene rubber | Styrene, Xylene, Butadiene, Hexane, Toluene | Flooring, sealing strips |
| Isoprene rubber | Xylene, Nitrosamines | Natural rubber substitute |
| Ethylene propylene rubber | Benzene, Hexane, Nitrosamines | Sealing strips |
| Chlorprene rubber | Chloroprene, Nitrosamines | Sealing strips |
Further information
• The Environmental Toll of Plastics, and article in Environmental Health News by Jessica A. Knoblauch, 2009, www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/dangers-of-plastic