Plastic Weld: the Silent Killer

I remember once, reading the bottle to a friend of mine. After reading "This bottle contains a chemical known in the State of California to cause cancer," we both simultaneously exclaimed:

"It's a good thing we're not in California!"

.

I always kinda liked the orange smell........ crap. Anyways, I tried using that stuff outside and I feel fine.

You need to be able to recognize some simple signs of over exposure as well, like clamy skin, headache, nasiua, and lightheadedness are all ways your body says "HEY DUMMY, GET SOME FRESH AIR!" The reason you smell those odors from your paints and glues is so that you know a chemical is in the air. Most of these odors are actually added, and the point is so you can tell its there. Ever notice testors glue smells like oranges? that is so you know its there.

Yeah, thanks for the information!

I guess I should have expired long ago, I love the smell of Tenax in the morning!

Steve

QUOTE: the exposure levels required to cause problems vary widely depending on the chemical, but in general, as a modeller, you will be unlikely to have been exposed to levels that will cause problems.

That statement pretty much nails it. To further the discussion, you should know that commen sense is authorized to be used. In order to reduce exposures, I would recommend the following (There are, of course, many others; these are some basics):

1. Top priority: If you are concerned about the glue you are using, then I would suggest seriously considering changing to a comparitively less toxic cement such as Testor's liquid cement, or Tamiya liquid cement. The nice thing about these glues is that they work just as well or better than what you're using now, but do not evaporate as quickly, thereby reducing the vapor concentrations you are exposed to. They also do not contain methylene chloride, quite possibly the chemical of concern in what you're using now.

2. Put a small fan on the workspace beside you and allow it to blow across the work area; or place it behind you and off to one side. Either way, cross drafting will occur, and vapors will be blown away from your breathing zone.

3. Open a window and allow fresh air to come in and mix with your room air, thereby diluting any vapors. Use #2 and #3 together for optimum efficiency.

4. When not using glues or other solvents, keep the caps and lids on tight.

5. Use the smallest applicator possible to put the minimum amount of glue onto parts that will cause adequate adhesion.

These are just a few common sense ideas that can reduce vapor exposures. Given the quantity of material and the frequency and duration of use, I would be hard pressed to recommend respiratory protection for those tasks. Painting, however, is another story entirely.

One other point and I'll shut up. You should know that just because you can smell a chemical doesn't necessarily mean you're being overexposed to it. Most organic solvents have odor thresholds that are several orders of magnitude less than their allowable exposure levels. For example, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), the primary solvent in Testor's liquid cement, has an odor threshold of about 10 ppm, compared to an allowable exposure of 200 ppm.

QUOTE: Nearly every modeling chemical on the market is said to and can cause cancer.

Simply an untrue statement.



Hope this helps some.
Gip Winecoff

Nearly every modeling chemical on the market is said to and can cause cancer.

Don't sniff them, use proper ventilation, and don't allow Lacquers(including Lacquer based putties) to sit on your skin.

Get a charcoal filter mask....most car accessory shops sell them.

DO NOT use a standard mask, all that does it catch the chemical more..

As said, if your modeling just open the window a tad

Alasdair

Your dust mask won't do any thing angains vapors.
Ventilation and gloves are necessary when using these liquid cements.

these warnings are given as a precaution to litigation, the exposure levels required to cause problems vary widely depending on the chemical, but in general, as a modeller, you will be unlikely to have been exposed to levels that will cause problems.
Of cause, the more prcautions you take the better, masks, ventilation, not eating/drinking or smoking while using chemicals are all basic common sense precautions that you should be taking anyway.
Wash your hands after use, before doing anything else.
the main causes of contamination are ingestion and inhilation, some chemicals are transdermic, but I guess you are wearing gloves while you use this stuff?