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Turpentine dangerous?

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 4:02 PM
QUOTE: Iroc, don' get into a contest with me over this. I'm a hardcore brass player, and can make some pretty disgusting sounds with my mouth and lips. I've even had a few conductors reinforce that, too!


I bow to your expertise, I know when I've met my match and overstepped my abilities.Big Smile [:D]

I've always been able to tell a blowhard when I 1st meet them.Black Eye [B)] Wink [;)]
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: The flat lands of the Southeast
Posted by styrene on Thursday, November 4, 2004 2:17 PM
QUOTE: pfft


I'll do you one better: Phthplthhthlpptttlht!
Iroc, don' get into a contest with me over this. I'm a hardcore brass player, and can make some pretty disgusting sounds with my mouth and lips. Big Smile [:D] I've even had a few conductors reinforce that, too! Black Eye [B)]

QUOTE: Huh, I had no idea it was that toxic (which may not inspire much confidence in my HAZMAT credentials ). There wasn't much about it my emergency response guide. The most recent dead-tree format NIOSH guide I could find had a 100ppm exposure limit and an IDLH level of 1900 ppm, and no word on mineral spirits. I have a newer NIOSH manual on CD somewhere. The Merck manual had a big old long laundry list of potential side effects , but I've never noticed any.


Tangoromeo, keep in mind the NIOSH guide is for emergency response. Exposures are typically based on the day-in and day-out use of materials. If you are interested in this stuff, check out Sax's "Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials", or maybe the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) which is available on-line (I think) through NIOSH. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to shoot me an e-mail.

QUOTE: Outside of being extremely flammable and toxic, it's relatively safe to use.


Zokissima, that makes absolutely no sense whatsoeverConfused [%-)], but it's kinda funny--I know exactly what you're trying to say....Approve [^]

Gip Winecoff

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posted by zokissima on Thursday, November 4, 2004 11:20 AM
Outside of being extremely flammable and toxic, it's relatively safe to use. Just don't take a swig, and light up Big Smile [:D]
I don't wear a mask when using it, but I generally use it out of very small containers, and only to clean my paint brushes.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 3:15 PM
pfft
and I used to soak my hands in it to push formica splinters to the surface so they could be removed.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 3:08 PM
Huh, I had no idea it was that toxic (which may not inspire much confidence in my HAZMAT credentials Shock [:O]). There wasn't much about it my emergency response guide. The most recent dead-tree format NIOSH guide I could find had a 100ppm exposure limit and an IDLH level of 1900 ppm, and no word on mineral spirits. I have a newer NIOSH manual on CD somewhere. The Merck manual had a big old long laundry list of potential side effects Dead [xx(], but I've never noticed any.

I'm still a big turpentine fan, probably just an affected archaism due to my Southern heritage. Cool [8D]
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: The flat lands of the Southeast
Posted by styrene on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 6:33 PM
Working on the knowledge that toxicity is dose dependent, and given current exposure guidelines and regulations, turpentine would be about 4 to 5 times more toxic than standard "mineral spirits". The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) is recommending a decrease in current exposure values to only 20ppm averaged over an 8-hour work day. That ain't very much.
Both materials are organic in nature, and affect the body as a central nervous system, liver, and kidney toxicant; however it takes less turpentine to create a dose-response effect than an equal amount of "mineral spirits". In addition, some of the available literature suggests exposure to turpentine has the ability to cause an allergic reaction. Just like other allergens, once allergic--always allergic. Furthermore, turpentine is flammable (flash point = 95 degrees F) as opposed to mineral spirits, which is combustible (flash point > 100 degrees F).

If you want to spray turpentine:
1. Don't. Find a suitable alternative--like mineral spirtis paint thinner.
2. If you still want to spray it, do it only in a well ventilated area: Outside, or if indoors then a PROPERLY constructed and functioning spray booth. If a spray booth is unavailable, see #1 above. In lieu of that, open some windows, get some fans going, and wear at least a 1/2 mask respirator equipped with organic vapor cartridges
3. Because of its allergic potential, consideration should be given to wearing nitrile rubber gloves (Latex is inappropriate--turpentine will degrade the rubber and diffuse through too quickly to offer adequate skin protection. In addition, potential latex allergies must also be considered.)

Hope this helps.
Gip Winecoff

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Portugal
Posted by Loureiro on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 3:58 PM
Hehehe...Thanks for the useful tips. Say, what a nice zippo...Dead [xx(]
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 3:12 PM
They used to use it as a medicine (externally and internally). It's certainly less toxic than mineral spirits or lacquer thinner. I kinda like the way it smells, nice and piney.

That being said, I'd avoid igniting it if I were you Wink [;)]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 2:44 PM
Wouldn't drink it if I were you Smile [:)]. All enamel/lacquer thinners are mildly toxic, but no repiratory protection is needed unless you airbrush. If spraying, best to use a mask for any paint, including acrylics, as the fine particles can be a health issue.

Regards, Rick
RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Portugal
Turpentine dangerous?
Posted by Loureiro on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 1:54 PM
Is there any kind of health problem associated with the use of turpentine? It kinda smells... Should any respiratory protection be used?
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