Written question asked by Tom Cox (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 26 November 1996. It was answered by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 26 November 1996 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: To comment on the research evaluated by DOE relating to the testing of the toxicity of the fire effluents of building products.

Answer: Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the research evaluated by his Department relating to the testing of the toxicity of the fire effluents of building products. [5580] Mr. Clappison: The toxicology of the major components of fire effluents such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, is well understood and is not being studied in the Department's present research programme. The programme does include studies of methods for the assessment of toxic hazard in fire, which take into account existing toxicity data and such factors as burning behaviour.

Secondary information