Polmers having reduced carbon monoxide generation upon burning

A polymeric composition, comprising:

• a nitrogen-free polymer, said polymer selected from the group consisting of an elastomer, a thermoplastic, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoset, and combinations thereof;
• the polymeric composition containing an alkaline earth metal salt, the amount of said alkaline earth metal salt ranging from about 25 parts to about 400 parts by weight per 100 parts of said nitrogen-free polymer;
• wherein said alkaline earth metal salt has a cation selected from the group consisting of berylium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and combinations thereof, and wherein said salt has an anion portion selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl, an oxide, and combinations thereof;
• said polymeric composition containing a catalyst, said catalyst selected from the group consisting of iron acetate, iron propionate, iron octoate, iron stearate, iron oleate, iron laurate, iron fumarate, iron citrate, iron tartate, cobalt acetate, cobalt propionate, cobalt octoate, cobalt stearate, cobalt laurate, cobalt naphthanate, manganese acetate, manganese octoate, manganese, stearate, manganese laurate, manganese oleate, iron carbonate, cobalt carbonate, manganese carbonate, and combinations thereof;
• wherein the amount of said catalysts ranges from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight per 100 parts of said polymer;
• and
• wherein said polymeric composition has reduced carbon monoxide generation upon burning.