NIOSH has continued to try to get the word out to workers and employers about the risks of working with methylene chloride. We recommend that you consult your personal physician about your health issues, and your local health department for assistance with the building management. I have an article on my site entitled Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous. Publication number 81-8c-2013. When there is not a properly designed local exhaust ventilation system to remove vapors, the workers should have used full-face supplied-air respirators, protective gloves, and other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that is resistant to methylene chloride during the entire refinishing process. What a Useful Post and great shared to Plumbing Service, Thanks author your Awesome tropic and Excellent Content. Finding a Miracle Method office. It is now peeling off. There may also be substitute stripping products or methods however, please be aware that substitute stripping products may include other harmful chemicals or hazards, so use substitutes safely. My friend was in the bathroom for only 4 minutes until his co workers had discovered him lying head first into the bathtub, still wearing proper mask and gloves both of which in good condition. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. Your new bathroom's finish won't have any . We are sorry to hear about the symptoms that you experienced and hope you are doing better. 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. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. It's also possible to injure yourself if the product comes in contact with the skin. Especially if chosen to be done in small places like a bathroom. They took all precautions and said the fumes were gone, its only a smell. I now have a colostomy, urostomy,skin cancers and CKD(chronic kidney disease)with only one kidney working and that only functions at 15%. I have 2 small kids and an infant. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. I regret it so much now and want the tub out of the house. You can also use your favorite search engine and search using the following key words: Bathtub Porcelain Glaze MSDS We are sorry to hear about your health issues. The concentration of the exposure is important too. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. As owner of a tub refinishing company we have moved away from polyurethane isocyanate systems years ago because of the hazards but, for educational purposes, we provide a dedicated page with links to various articles on our website explaining the dangers of isocyanate coating use in residential markets. Bathtub stripping vapors must be taken seriously. However, we have no information about the risks that might arise to the resident from exposure to the flaking surface of the refinished tub. Consult the OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert for specific information regarding engineering controls, exposure levels and air monitoring, personal protective equipment, worker training and medical surveillance. I am Gary Goel owner of the Professional Bathtub Refinishers Association. 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. Why can strippers with this ingredient be sold to consumers in U.S. hardware stores that do _not_ sell the full-face air supplied respirators that should be worn while using it? Dont do it if you have to stay in your home immediately after. At high enough levels, it can stop breathing. My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products.I think this type of finish should be banned.This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. If you are concerned about the smells, you could seek help from your local health department. Even if they come in a spray can unless you really know how to spray a cross hatch overlap pattern then you will have dry edges. Whether your tub is refinished or reglazed depends on whether or not the old coating was removed before putting a new layer of epoxy or another coating. Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. I have actually replaced a dead refinisher who has lossed his life stripping a bathtub. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. I use a flexible flat blade scraper and then sand with an aggressive grit. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. Agree with your perspective. I have never thought of this before! What is this stuff? In Europe, the use of paint strippers containing more than 0.1 % methylene chloride is allowed only in industrial installations with adequate controls to reduce exposure. Thank you! The bathroom was small, and the door was closed due to restricted access to the bathtub. The toxins became so concentrated in a short period of time due to lack if ventilation and confined space. http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00. I and my two other friends went to the hospital last night to say our goodbyes. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. Works on all types of surfaces. 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. very good and helpful post thanks to author. I blog often and I really appreciate your content. The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. This situation creates dangerously high concentrations of methylene chloride and even replaces the breathable air. Use long-handled tools (e.g., scrapers, brushes) to avoid leaning into the bathtub. Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? Theyll also ensure adequate ventilation during the project, if necessary deploying powerful fans with duct extensions to exhaust hazardous vapors to the outdoors, says DeClerico. My landlord want to have our tub regalzed. This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. Im 70 and have no place to go except my apartment. Weve added a resource to try and educate those who are using these processes and offered a number of safer alternatives to using substances other than methylene chloride here: http://jwcpropertyservices.co.uk/bathtub-refinishing-dangers/. She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. Posts: 19. Without a thorough investigation of the respirator, process used, and procedures it would be hard to identify the source of this adverse effect. We use MC (methylene chloride) in my furniture shop. Thanks for your comment. How can -re-glazers be allowed to do this line of work if it is dangerous to everyone involved? I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. He also had a small fan in the bathroom window to remove the fumes, as well as towels on the floor to prevent odors from coming into the living area. Sometimes, it's less expensive to replace a tub than to get it refinished, especially if it's a rare type of tub made of an unusual material. You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. I stripped the two sinks using a chisel and a heat gun. While bathtub refinishing is one I havent tried, I do know that in-home work with many types of cleaners, paints and strippers and adhesives is always going to be a concern due to poor air circulation indoors, and sometimes outdoors too. I do home remodeling in Dallas, and many homeowners want to try to salvage some tubs, which is cost effective for some, but certainly a chemical risk for the workers and I would think the homeowners need to be made aware of this type of chemical being used in their home. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! Most professionals use alternative methods when possible. And Bathtub Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane MSDS. Follow the links to the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) that the search will find. An expert starts by sanding down the tub's. What is the difference between a muntin and a mullion and are they still used in windows? Based on this information, I think I can live with a less-than-perfect finish until we are able to get the tub professionally refinished. I think this type of finish should be banned. I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. Renewing is the affordable and fast alternative to replacing. Since methylene chloride is a volatile organic compound that will evaporate faster when sprayed, brushed, or poured, the chemical vapors can quickly build up in small spaces. Great Post i appreciate this thanks for sharing this post . Products with these types of known harmful ingredients must require special labeling with clearer health and safety warnings for users. Effective ventilation would have to be ensured in order to shield the worker from toxic fumes of the process. Ive read some incredible information in this article. Step 2: Clean the Tub Thoroughly Step 3: Protect Areas Around the Tub Step 4: Remove the Glaze Step 5: Sand the Surface Step 6: Prep the Surface for Glaze Application The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. Hi, this is all so helpful. I've set up fans to direct the fumes out the screen door and left the premises. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. But the air looked pretty fume filled to me This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? You should always wear protective clothing and use the appropriate safety-rated equipment whenever you are doing any household repair or remodeling work, and reglazing a bathtub is no exception. There are alternatives to using methylene chloride (MC) for bathtub stripping. 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. I would also like to issue one other caveat. You may want to contact the Environmental Protection Agency or The Consumer Product Safety Commission. I only use stripper when absolutely necessary. Winter renters lose leverage, questions for condo and co-op buyers, & more, The allure of tax abatements, a Chelsea affordable housing lottery, & more, Co-ops may have some 'splaining to do, renting a penthouse, & more. Vanity of a tub isnt worth it. We face inspections every year where lots of tubs are refinished in this building.but no precautions are ever taken to protect the residents and their animals. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. Thanks to those whoever posted this article. Moreover, because methylene chloride evaporates quickly (it has a high vapor pressure), vapors can collect in the bottom of a bathtub and in the workers breathing zone when working in the bathtub. My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. Thank you. Simply not worth the risk. TENANT INSTRUCTIONS: . Its also useful to mention that there are different types of chemicals which use MC as an active ingredient. 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)). We are sorry to hear about your symptoms. Is there any danger that the enamel could have absorbed the refinishing chemicals to be released into my bath water at this later date? After the surface has dried, it is 100% safe to use the bathroom fixture. These chemicals are no joke and need to be taken seriously. I was researching because i just had a bad experience. Because this process, which involves spraying a new topcoat on your existing tub and/or tile, is significantly cheaper, easier, cleaner, and less time-consuming than actually replacing a tub. Id thought of using a refinishing kit, but after reading this, I guess Ill just live with the chip. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. Our blog focused on the exposures from methylene chloride to workers during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. How to get your plans past the board, 3 NYC apartment bathroom renovation veterans on what they learned from the process, How to read a NYC co-op or condo buildings financial statement. I think people always take safety for too lightly. Rents an apartment with ventilation that mixes with neighbors and brings odors from adjacent apartments, Was subjected to highly toxic fumes from maintenance being performed on a neighboring apartment Suffered from effects of those fumes, and nearly succumbing to them Thank you for introducing this sensitive topic in such a way I never thought these chemicals were so dangerous. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this! Maybe others reading this blog will be able to help point you in the right direction. If the vapor smell continues and is persistent you should call a safety and health professional to evaluate the area. I stayed home all day, working around the house because there were two workers and didnt want to leave strangers in my home. I opened my windows, all four. How much should you renovate your NYC apartment before selling it? Can you give me any help in researching to determine if the polyurethane/acrylic finishes leaches? I wish I had read this blog before the procedure. I attempt to lead a very clean life and avoid many commercial products (body care products, cleaning products, sprays etc). These are classified as potential human carcinogens according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and protective gear should be worn when working with them.
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