ABSTRACT
Smaller amounts of nitrogen and sulfur heterocyclics are adsorbed on oil furnace carbon blacks, whereas oxygenated Polynuclear aromatic compounds are present on channel blacks and after treated furnace blacks. Organic solvent extracts of carbon black contain mainly four- to sevenring polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, among which are known animal mutagens, and carcinogens. A clear distinction exists between carbon black, and environmental soots which are variable mixtures of carbonaceous particles with oils, tars, resins, and refractory inorganic salts and oxides Many more workers are occupationally exposed to mixtures containing carbon black in user industries, such as rubber tire manufacture which is the subject of numerous epidemiologic investigations. Tire manufacturing operations associated with high exposure to carbon black and inorganic dusts produced no pneumoconiosis, and relatively little respiratory disease. Detailed governmental regulations setting requirements for food-related use of carbon black in Western Europe and North America are compiled.
