Safety Issues - A caution re heated & burnt plastics used to modify lighting I am a retired professional firefighter from the NSW Fire Brigades and have had considerable experience as well as studying the subject of exposure to hazardous chemicals (with good reason) whether inhaled by breathing or skin contact. Plastics, rubber and non-inert paints are some of the most insidious and hazardous to human health and not to be underestimated. Over the last few years I have been on several productions and drama teaching situations, where such risks were unnecessarily made present. In some drama schools and also on some productions people involved were blithely unaware of immensely serious health risks they are taking, even in enclosed spaces, and exposing others to these risks, when, for purposes of modify or diffusing lighting people, who should know better, have made use of polystyrene foam and plastic and some non-inert paints which are visibly eroded or burnt by the heat of the lamps. If these ignite the risk is heightened and in some cases some plastics may cause instant or imminent death because when burnt or heated they may in some cases exude fumes such as cyanide gas. Many of the bodies we pulled out of houses working in New South Wales Fire Brigades, whilst saving the premises from fire, people nevertheless died because they had inhaled burnt plastic or rubber fumes. People can die from such toxic exposure. They may die suddenly or slowly over time, with much unnecessarily suffering from the results of material the human body has not evolved to process. The effects are persistent, bio accumulative and toxic. Such fumes are not always detectable or noticeable for example visibly or by means of olfactory process (smell) in the case of some heated plastics, paints or rubber. Obviously abusers are not aware of the extreme long term cumulative dangers associated with such practices. People in the performing arts urgently need to be made aware of such risks. Emitted fumes, whether burnt or just heated present an extreme risk once breathed. The body cannot process the chemicals involved and such exposure and these contain considerable quantities of endocrine disruptors such as dioxins and other toxins which have been associated with tumours, cancer, sterility, testicular and ovarian cancer, brain damage and damage to the nervous system and various organs of the body. In the old NSW Fire Brigades (now NSW Fire & Rescue) pre 1985 where breathing apparatus and other safety equipment was either not sufficiently available, or not used due to systemic negligent malpractice, many firefighters unnecessarily and otherwise avoidably died slowly as a result of such exposure. For this reason, I left the job in 1984 to terminate the avoidable and unnecessary enforced exposure. My choice to do so possibly saved my life, but it took many years to recover from the damage already caused, to be able to sufficiently manage my health following a curtailed career in the NSWFB in the days where these risks were denied and ignored by the relevant authorities until about 1985 when the courts began to enforce occupational safety practices around inhalation of smoke and fumes as well as skin exposure more stringently. I spent over twenty years managing my broken health and using extreme measures to detoxify my body and may probably never again fully restore my damaged health conditions. The suffering is considerable and many of my peers in the fire brigades have died slowly over many years from the long term effect of such exposure. They died slowly and with much suffering which extended the burden upon their families. Toxic inhalation of plastics is not a matter to be taken lightly. Once ingested, breathed or having contact with the skin the body can not readily process or discard these toxins. Sometimes people complain of headaches and other symptoms. Such symptoms are not cured by simply taking a Panadol or other pain killers, which merely mask the headache or symptom. Such immediate symptoms are the body's warning systems screaming to get the hell out of the toxic environment and not repeat the incident. But as we know, often actors, extras and other workers are captive to the situation at hand and would not gain popularity by walking off a set. Actors lives, health and wellbeing are currently being put at risk unnecessarily by such (apparently widespread) practices. Ignorance is NOT an excuse. These matters have been confirmed by numerous scientific studies and have been regularly broadcast in the media such as: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4207313.htm http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4207313.htm http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/documents/Chemicals2013/APVMA_Response.pdf http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2011/s3144681.htm http://plasticisrubbish.com/2008/06/02/dioxins-why-you-dont-want-to-be-burning-plastic/ Halogenated plastics, those made from chlorine or fluorine Halogenated plastics include: Chlorine based plastics: Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) Chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) Polychloroprene (CR or chloroprene rubber, marketed under the brand name of Neoprene) PVC Fluorine based plastics: Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) Burning these plastics can release dioxins. Dioxins are unintentionally, but unavoidably produced during the manufacture of materials containing chlorine, including PVC and other chlorinated plastic feed stocks. Dioxin is a known human carcinogen and the most potent synthetic carcinogen ever tested in laboratory animals. A characterisation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology of cancer causing potential evaluated dioxin as over 10,000 times more potent than the next highest chemical (diethanol amine), half a million times more than arsenic and a million or more times greater than all others. The World Health Organisation said: “Once dioxins have entered the environment or body, they are there to stay due to their uncanny ability to dissolve in fats and to their rock-solid chemical stability.” That is because dioxins are classed as one of the persistent organic pollutants, POPs, also known as as PBTs (Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic) or TOMPs (Toxic Organic Micro Pollutants.) POPs are a small set of toxic chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods and accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals. They are extremely toxic and cause all manner of illnesses. You can find out more about POPS here http://plasticisrubbish.com/2013/12/26/what-arepersistant-organic-pollutants-pops/ Burning plastic, rubber or painted materials creates poisonous fumes and can have damaging health effects sometimes producing asthmatic or heart conditions or exacerbating pre-existing conditions. This is covered under various Environmental Protection Acts. Such practices are not merely unintelligent and inexcusable. They are definitely not recommended but contain the potential for extreme consequences the medical profession is not equipped to undo. You cannot tell just by looking at a plastic sheet how dangerous it can be once heated beyond certain undefined temperatures or burnt. Experience does not teach people to avoid exposure in the future. It harms and kills and is difficult to subsequently prove, although compensation cases can be expensive for all concerned and not always successful. Cumulative and residual effects manifest disease slowly over time. On this basis minimising or preventing exposure is the best policy. Such practices may also carry severe legal and civil liability consequences: http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_reg/clr2014252/sch4.html http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/754/Guide-PCBUHealth-Monitoring-Exposure-Hazardous-Chemicals.pdf http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/2/1/1/%7B211B5EB9-E888-4D26-AED41D4E76646E4B%7Drpp109.pdf http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/2/1/1/%7B211B5EB9-E888-4D26-AED41D4E76646E4B%7Drpp109.pdf http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/xstd_files/Waste/Guideline/guide_tyres.pdf http://www.gov.pe.ca/environment/burning-plastic http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-07-15/no-burning-rubber/439684 The subject is not a new one. General knowledge does however appear to be widely insufficient. The various Australian State Environmental Protection Agencies may assist to throw further light on any questions: Go http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/ and better, phone them and talk to the appropriate individuals. The selection of materials used in proximity to heat and the risk of combustion must be carefully and intelligently selected with a reasonable understanding of the materials used. For example cotton and hemp (hessian) are safer. But NEVER ANY plastic or rubber. Paints also, MUST be inert and fit for purpose. Performing artists are sometimes so focussed on their art that I have found them to be totally unconscious of imminent risks that may be present or which they may be creating for themselves. In this case that of fire, fumes and chemical hazards. I believe that it is imperative that awareness of such matters should be raised in order that performing artists and associated workers' wellbeing and safety be augmented. At present I have found most, if not all, to be largely bereft and lacking in this understanding. This is not an acceptable standard. I would respectfully request that you duly research and broadcast the risks of such practices to all performing artists in Australia via the medium of your publications. In the course of time, and after numerous litigations, these matters will become more comprehensively ensconced in law. It would be preferable that the performing arts lead the way in forging increased health and safety evolution of such awareness, instead of the protracted and expensive way which may otherwise eventuate and lead to the same result. It's not rocket science and pretty basic to not heat or burn plastics, rubber or non-inert paint and a little awareness raising may go a long way. In the practices of modifying lighting it is urgent that widespread awareness be increased so that this may be carried out safely using inert and safe material AND proper ventilation of the lights and also premises used for sets be in place, with due consideration for the long term health of all people present. Many thanks, Nev Sagiba