Do you think there are health problems with long term use of epoxy? I am using aluzine… I really like making boards and was wondering if it was dangerous over time? I use mask… Thanks for your time
I just switched to epoxy after working in a polyester factory and have become sensitized to epoxy. I get itchiness and red marks if i dont cover up with a long shirt and long pants. Never had this with poly.
Just cover up your skin, always wear a mask and it should be fine.
No need for a mask in the lam stage in my not so humble opinion. Supposedly 1/50th the VOCs of polyester. I do use a mask when I use the surfacing agent fot hot coats. As long as you don’t use acetone in the clean up process you should not become sensitized. Just work clean wear gloves and wipe your plasic spreader squeegies with your fiberglass cut offs and let any resin that gets on you go off and peel when it’s’ ready.
Let me tell you something, its all toxic. Its a chemical soup that turns into a rock hard plastic. Treat all resins and the associated solvents and sanding dust as if they are toxic. None of it is good for you. Poly Epoxy doesn’t matter.
Here is the answer to your question. http://fiberglasshawaii.com/MSDS/Aluzine%202_1%20Resin.pdf
SECTION VI - HEALTH HAZARD DATA EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: Acute: Slightly irritating to skin, moderately irritating to eyes. Odor may irritate nose, throat and respiratory tract of some persons. Chronic: May cause skin sensitization from prolonged and repeated contact. Carcinogenicity: Early studies with DGEBPA have been negative. The IARC concluded in 1988 that DGEBPA was not classifiable as a carcinogen. EMERGENCY AND FIRST AID PROCEDURES: Eyes: Flush with water for 30 minutes holding eyelids open. Seek medical attention. Skin: Remove contaminated clothing and shoes and wipe excess off skin. Flush skin with water. Follow by washing in soap and water. If irritation occurs, seek medical attention. Do not reuse clothing until cleaned. Contaminated leather articles (shoes) cannot be decontaminated and should be destroyed. Inhalation: Remove victim to fresh air and provide oxygen if breathing is difficult. Give artificial respiration if not breathing. Get medical attention. Ingestion: Do not give liquids if victim is unconscious or very drowsy. Otherwise, give no more than 2 glasses of water and induce vomiting by giving 2 tablespoons syrup of ipecac (1 tablespoon and 1 glass of water for child). If ipecac is unavailable, give 2 glasses of water and induce vomiting by touching finger to back of throat. Keep head below hips while vomiting. Get medical attention. Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure: Other than skin sensitization which appears to be permanent, epoxy resin does not appear to cause long term health effects. Nor, does it appear to aggravate other medical conditions.
SECTION VIII - SPECIAL PROTECTION INFORMATION Respiratory Protection: Normally none is required when adequate ventilation is provided. In the absence of proper environmental control NIOSH approved respiratory is required. For emergencies, a self-contained breathing apparatus or full-faced respirator is recommended. Ventilation: Provide adequate ventilation in work areas. Confine material in sealed containers when not in use. Hand Protection: Always wear impervious gloves, neoprene, vinyl or rubber. Eye Protection: Splash proof goggles or safety spectacles with side shields are recommended. Always wear eye protection when sanding cured epoxy resins to avoid dust in eyes. Other Protective Equipment: Wear clean, body-covering clothing to avoid skin contact.
Once again. Respiratory Protection: Normally none is required when adequate ventilation is provided.
you guys are awsome!
thanks so much!!
i felt like a dork asking this but my thanks again for responding so nice.
The info was perfect. Aloha
Great info from all. mako224 and sirwanksalot are spot on and this includes the so called “green” epoxies as well. They are all to be used with care and proper protection no matter how “non-hazardous” the label says they are.
HiBred,
Who knows what kinda damage we did to our bodies back in our younger PU/PE days when the only safety equipment was swim shorts and masking tape on the slippahs.
From what I gathered so far, those SABC’s worn for safety and comfort isn’t a bad idea. I did’nt like the cost of changing respirator and dust filters on my old gear. They were uncomfortable and in the back of my mind, I’d always question how effective the filters were. So I’m researching but thought I share my thoughts in case it’ll help…
shaka,
T
Zack, was acetone involved?
all the best
Took the words right out of my mouth. Better words out than chems in eh. ;] Seriously I try to do all my epoxy or PE work outdoors and in small volumns. Anyone working on an industrial scale should take ANY and ALL precations!
**one word
bullshit**
listen up brother
this is the last time i will say this ‘‘eva’’
**by your admission you are beginning to be sensitised
how would i know
well
i built many boats during the late 70s through the eightys
using the real bad stuff.
when i started doing composite epoxy boards about 14 yrs ago
slowly but surely i came to realise i was sensitzed to the epoxy
once it gets to you there is only two ways to go
1 give it away
2 get a system going thet keeps you and anything related to the epoxy apart (no joking do not laugh this is the real game)
the backyarders will get away with it
but comercialy it needs a solid aproach
heres a few good tips for you
try to use a good one like a t l do not try to get away from suit up’’
long sleeves surgical gloves like the docs use will get the brand for you when i get to work
heres wot i do prep the boards ready to go, have a fan running an airstream across you mixing area
why the airstream?
when you mix your epoxy your stirring send tiny little micro bubblees floating upwards and these will land on your face and anywhere else not covered**
**so the fan keeps that from happining
weigh your batches in smaller qauntitys just keep coming back and mixing more shortboard 1 mix per board biger boards two or even three mixes for longboards**
tip get yourself a container to be able to powder with like a big jar with a lid drill a heap of holes in the lid
now fill the jar with corn flour sprinkle on your hands and powder your face and neck befor you suit up, somemore on your hands p-ut your mask on then your gloves when you are finished a glassing session go have a shower any residue that has got on you will be on the powder and washes off
** clean up ok the glove and sqeege will rinse off with metho do it in an ice cream container then pour that metho in a used bottle and repeat with clean meths’’ if you keep the old meths in a big jar say a litre wold be allright you can re use it many times for inital cleaning
as the epoxy seperates entirly fom the spirits and builds itself a little miniture reef haa’'**
why corn flour? cheap and importantly is a natural----- talcum is mined in the vicinity of asbestos
**never and i mean never sand a board the next day
if you can when sanding get it outside with a good southeaster blowing ( inn other words you do not want it on you)**
cheers huie
The one good thing I like about epoxy is not using acetone. When I was working on Yachts in the mid 1970s we were useing WEST system epoxy and cleaning up with Acetone. It was only later that warning bulletins came out about this very hazardous practice. Whenever I’m working on my boat or kayak SUP or Board I cover up. wear gloves and a mask.
clean up with white vinager then soup and water.
Tomato or chicken noodle?
I need to check my spell check. But I would favor Black Bean soup.
'Particularly good/useful answer by Huie earlier on in this thread I thought with regard to safety tips while using epoxy (e.g. the cornflour duster, etc).
Tried giving that post a +2 upvote, but I’m not sure it’s even registered a +1 upvote.
Anyway, good on you and thanks for that one Huie. Cheers!
First I’ll say
Listen to Huie
His advice is pure.
Much like this oil spill here…
Old days vs. now.
A small time glasser of xx yrs.
Still kicking’ thank God.
I think I should be more careful using epoxy
Huck??? You listening (old man)
My take is…
A number of laminators use epoxy on PU
Because the neighbors might complain about smell
Right?
Stink oh that stink
Me?
I ready miss the smell of poly resin.
The last batch of (PU) boards I tried a new FGH poly resin
Polyester acrylic modified UV with optical brightener.
Took a survey of downwind neighbors of which
Love me and just knew I was glassing or hot coating.
All missed the smell (sh*t so did I)
5 boards
Most bitches
Router!
BTW lam job’s (this batch) 4oz.Warp & Acrylic PU
Finish 220 & polished No change from NON Acrylic PU
Durability (so far) better than D size
Go figure
Theoricaly with appropriate ventilation, from top to bottom high speed air, you don’t need respiratory protection with low voc epoxy, those solvent free. Even if all epoxy are not equal about toxicity, depend of chemics choose by producer, componets are potential skin sensitizer end uncured mix too. Solvent massively increase sensitize potential. So you must protect all skin from liquid up too full react product and mask is a good way to protect face. You must use nitril glooves or at least vinyl one but not latex. A recent publication of professionnal health risks explain that most epoxy sensitization come from sanding. So you must only sand cured (reacted molecule) washed (amine free) epoxy, you must cover skin when sanding epoxy, you must use a sander with vacuum and reduce to strict minimum hand sanding (always sand with nitril gloves).
Cheers for the tips Huie. much appreciated.
and greg yes were still using acetone, is that a bad thing ?
it seems most of my issues come from the hardner and sanding. I accidently spilt some hardner that landed on my jeans and foot, i cleaned it all off with some paper towels but the little bit of residue completely burnt my skin and made a real mess of my foot. Gunna keep with it for a few more years, but will probably have to go back to a poly factory once ive finished my colour work apprenticeship.
Stop use acétone ! Use a hot box to cured epoxy faster. Plus give better mechanical results.