ABSTRACT
Carbon blacks used in tire production have been examined for their polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (P.A.H.) content. The analytical procedures commonly adopted are discussed. The results obtained show that, A benzene extraction time of 250 hours is necessary to obtain complete extraction, but for practical purposes, an extraction time of 150 hours is sufficient to extract more than 95% of the PAH. It is possible to identify two classes of blacks in regard to extractables. The one class provides extractables in the range of 200--400 micrograms/g; the second class, in the range of 1000--2000 micrograms/g. No P.A.H. were detected by direct injection of carbon black into the mass spectrograph at 200 degrees C, 10(-6) torr. This was probably due to the very strong bonding to the black particles. The P.A.H. contribute a relative constant percentage of the benzene extracts. It is reasonably possible to exclude any carcinogenic risk to personnel, in a working environment, with an airborne carbon black concentration equal to or less than 3.5 mg/m3, due to the very low P.A.H. content of carbon black and to the very strong P.A.H. bonding to the black particles.
