Like many cancer-causing agents, any level of exposure, even concentrations below applicable occupational exposure limits, may pose a residual cancer risk. We work a lot with paints and try to stay abreast of the dangers when working with chemicals, solvents and paint compounds. I stripped the lead paint off the outside of an old cast iron tub using a low-VOC paint stripper suitable for lead paint, and then primed and painted the exterior. The epoxy coatings used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors such as isocyanates when sprayed. Thanks for sharing. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. Last night I went to bed with a headache, then vomited on and off throughout the night. I regret it so much! If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. I have so many friends that are a part of DIY pages that encourage individuals to attempt these kinds of projects on their own, unknowingly knowing some of the real dangers. It was not difficult and required no chemicals; the refinisher evidently did a very poor job of it. My friends name is Kevin H. The incident happened Thursday April 27th at 4pm. All the tips in the post are great. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. You should contact 911 and move to an area with fresh air (outside), or if possible open an window to let fresh air in. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. There are exposure limits, but they are not based solely on how long a worker may be exposed to the chemical. Im not familiar with the Australian occupational health and safety system but you might want to start with Safe Work Australia http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA . information posted by individuals on this site is correct, and disclaims any liability for any I am thankful that I found this article before I made a final decision on whether or not to purchase a DIY kit for my tub interior. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. I already have cancer, my throat was raw and I had a headache. Bathtub refinishing is very dangerous. I have no experience in this type of work, my day job is a guidance counselor, but I started thinking about how we might prevent these fatalities from happening going forward, if using MC. But it's not just about looks. (Obviously, no, but you get the idea.). So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the residents after the project. Seek medical attention for treatment and evaluation. Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. Wow this is kinda hard to believe that even a thing such as messing with a bathtub can be so dangerous. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Is the Bathtub Reglazing Odor Terrible? Learn About the Bathtub Tub Cast Ekopel 2K Bathtub Refinishing Kit - Made In The USA - Odorless Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. I am older with heart disease and lung disease. If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. As a result, most tenants moved. At high enough levels, it can stop breathing. I had no problems with it and thought they knew what they were doing as it happens all the time here. Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. I think our tub would look so much nicer if we had it refinished.
How Long Does Reglazing a Tub Last and How Does it Work Ive spoken with many other tub resurfacing company owners and employees, and most of them do not use or even own full-face air-supplied respirators.
I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. Even with treatment, lead poisoning can permanently affect a childs development. After reading this post I think I can live with those scratches until I can hire a professional. Even if you hire a professional to reglaze or refinish your bathtub, you and your family or other residents should leave the property during the entire process, including while the epoxy coat cures after application. Does anyone know if I should be worried? ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. Ms. Scott thank you for your interest in our blog Dangers of Bathtub Refinishing and your question regarding how to assess exposure to toxic vapors. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. I stayed home all day, working around the house because there were two workers and didnt want to leave strangers in my home. Hi I have very sensitive skin, and covered in psoriasis and eczema. The use of methylene chloride killed many people in the industry. All are members dread strip jobs.Frankly I dont know why someone would choose them. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride (paint stripper) directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. This may sound extreme, but I assure you, neglect to safety is not worth the life of a co worker, family member, or in my case a best friend. theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). I certainly will be approaching this much differently. Patrick. The company who gave me 6 year warranty has disconnected the phone number. Bathtub stripping vapors must be taken seriously. A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. Bathtub refinishing is amazing. If the vapor smell continues and is persistent you should call a safety and health professional to evaluate the area. We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. Kimberly Evans. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. Thank you for sharing this useful information. I will stress this to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. I am thankful to those who began to get the word out to the general public, you have certainly saved lives by doing so. Earlier this week NIOSH and OSHA released a joint Hazard Alert titled Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers. Brooklyn resident Emily Gilbert had her familys tub and part of the bathroom wall reglazed four-and-a-half years ago (, Moving to NYC after college? I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. Its either not portable or cost prohibitive. Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this!
Pacific Reglazing | Bathtub Reglazing Experts Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. When selecting a PID care must be taken to make sure that the instrument is equipped with a lamp that has the ionization potential necessary to detect methylene chloride (11.7 eV lamp). Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing.
PDF Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers What a great reminder to always plan for and wear personal protective equipment. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. If bathroom smells awful two days after resurfacing is that just the coating or also the dangerous MC? Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. Employers must ensure that workers are not exposed to levels above OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs) of 25 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) and 125 ppm over any 15-minute period (short-term exposure limit or STEL) (29 CFR 1910.1052(c)). Publication number 81-8b-2012, Successful bathtub stripping using sanding as an alternative to methylene chloride Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. Hello. I think this should not be happening after 4 weeks but dont know what to do about it. If methylene chloride was used to strip the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing (the focus of our blog), it is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed.
Fatal Exposure to Methylene Chloride Among Bathtub Refinishers United It's also possible to injure yourself if the product comes in contact with the skin. Mostly problem is that it can broken. Pacific Reglazing provides high quality, affordable kitchen and bathroom repair and refinishing services throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, the San Fernando Valley, Ventura, Orange County and Riverside County. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. And Bathtub Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane MSDS. Follow the links to the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) that the search will find. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. However since Kevin was an organ donor, they kept his body on life support, in order to preserve is heart, liver, and kidneys. The use of a respirator scrubber mask (gas mask) isnt complete protection. Not sure if it can come through the walls. I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. Barely 3 days later I now have pluracy and bronchitis, i feel the building should be held responsible as we werent notified of the dangers. $ 89 00. Unfortunately, manufacturers tend to play-down the immediate and especially long-term exposure risks from degassing (fumes) that occur perhaps over the next month or more. It is a less costly alternative to replacing a bathtub; however, the process often involves the use of hazardous chemicals including methylene chloride, acids, and isocyanates. Quite naive of me. If the room where it was used is flushed with fresh air, perhaps by using a small fan, it is unlikely that any methylene chloride will be present or continue to leech out days after the re-glazing was done. Products with these types of known harmful ingredients must require special labeling with clearer health and safety warnings for users. I think they want things swept under the carpet. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble. Its a multi-step process that involves cleaning the tub thoroughly and sanding it to remove any soap scum or other particles, and repairing cracks or worn areasall of these imperfections will affect the quality and durability of the final finishing coat. Thanks for the great post. We use MC (methylene chloride) in my furniture shop. I opted in for your Feed too. This bathtub renovation option goes by many names resurfacing, recoating, refinishing or reglazing but has a pretty straightforward process. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. I went to clean out the tub to take another shower myself and by just barely cleaning it a whole bunch of paint came off, like over a foot and I was just barely scrubbing! We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. MC is not flammable on its own. Also, you may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. We were told when we did it that it only lasts about five years and I'm finding that to betrue, she says. We're starting to see chipped areasThey're more in the tub than on the walls. Use long-handled tools (e.g., scrapers, brushes) to avoid leaning into the bathtub. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. We are sorry to hear about your health issues. I could not believe how hard it was to even find a kit to purchase, which led me to wonder why. It was heart breaking. If it is an occupied apartment, they have to sign a waiver that they will be gone the required amount of time. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. After the bathtub has been stripped and resurfaced how long is the danger from the Methylene chloride still in the air? Contact me via e-mail njtragroup@gmail.com and send me your ideas. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. I did not use any safety precautions, but I was in the garage with a fan and the garage door opened. The tub needs to go. It a huge peeled off spot in the tub, dangerous to me? As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. There are bathtub refinishing companies out there, [company name removed] are using safe processes for refinishing your bathtub, you just have to ask the tough questions.