After reading the forum on fcs and coating plugs in mekp i did some research on the net and found varying degrees of information regarding the toxicity of this chemical.The inconsistancy comes in the form of skin contact.i read small amounts are just a skin irritant and it seems to be not much of a big deal but other statements i read note otherwise.Maybe some of the folks here with real life expierences could share their insights on how bad this chemical really is.I think its crazy it would be sold in ding repair kits even at less concentrated levels to unknowing surf newbies who have no idea the real dangers.yes most people here might be just builders with lots of years under their belt but incase no one is paying attention there is a huge movement in “do it yourself building” by many newcommers to the art and infact i think the people who are responsible for this site should infact take this very seriously because in a way they are contributing to this movement with these forums,i mean if you did not know how to build a board back in the day,you had to learn from someone with experience,now you can be a “joe” order up some supplies online,read these threads and have at it with no supervision whatsoever.
I have scars on my arms from MEKP. Toxic stuff. Just be careful.
Howzit dtothem, Be careful about getting it on your skin, burns and also can affect your liver, always wear gloves.Aloha,Kokua
kokua its good man,mahalo!i am pretty paranoid about the stuff,i wear double gloves and a full face respirator!i posted before about how great it is i think those involved share their thoughts and how you help out with good informative words,the internet is good and bad,like everything i guess,but again i will say how grateful i am that strangers are reaching out to strangers.i am proud to be a part of this community!
Caveat Emptor! Let the buyer beware!
One thing I’ve never understood is the lack of product information given to consumers. I use a lot of MDF (medium density fiberboard) making my art. I’ve always toted the stuff in my VW vanagon. When I sold the vanagon and went to buy some, I wanted it cut to fit in my new station wagon. This was at Home Depot. The guy there tells me he can’t cut that product because the dust is carcinogenic. Great. I been cutting and sawing and sanding the stuff for years and only now find it’s carcinogenic. No warning labels. I think I wrote to Home Depot but no answer.
Maybe we should start a resource section with the MSDS info all all the products commonly used in surfboard production. that would be a really good thing to have here.
If you ever have questions regarding the toxicity of a material simply search for it’s MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) online.
The MSDS for MEKP indicates a ceiling exposure limit of 0.2 ppm. A ceiling limit is one which should not be exceeded regardless of the duration. Some exposure limits use what’s know as a time weighted average (TWA). This is a limit which is applied over an 8 hour period, where you average the exposure level and duration to determine if the 8 hour TWA has been exceeded. For instance if something has a 100 ppm 8 hr TWA exposure limit you could be exposed to 800 ppm for 1 hour or 400 ppm for 2 hours, as long as there is not separate short term limit. MEKP is also listed as a severe skin irritant and indicated for both liver and kidney damage.
As far as the MDF goes, it has not only formaldehyde but also hard wood dust. Most hard woods have some level of toxicity whether it be a respiratory hazard or a contact dermatitis hazard. Some of the hard wood dusts are carcinogenic.
Oh, if only someone were willing to do a study of common hazards of surfboard building and publish the results and some practical guidelines.