This is quite an extensive
topic and has not had much coverage, perhaps this will highlight some concerns
In general the toxicity is
closely connected to the ingredients and the solvent carrier system the
particles are in. In general all the particles are tested before they are released
for sale - in most consumer products you will find SiO2 particles which are
safe; of course we should admit that "safe" is relative since we
don't know the long-term (30-40 years) affects 100% I think one should take
into consideration that we have much better research systems to assess
potential risks today.
Silica
“At least 1.7 million U.S. workers are exposed
to respirable crystalline silica in a variety of industries and occupations,
including construction, sandblasting, and mining. Silicosis, an irreversible
but preventable disease, is the illness most closely associated with
occupational exposure to the material, which also is known as silica dust.
Occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica are associated with the
development of silicosis, lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, and airways
diseases. These exposures may also be related to the development of autoimmune
disorders, chronic renal disease, and other adverse health effects” - Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
A few problems mentioned
before are clearly mostly due to the solvents that contain the particles - in
most cases you will have IPA/ethanol/water as the solvent of choice, there are
no problems with water or other volatile organic compound (VOC) free solvents. The
industry has mostly switched to VOC-free solvents whenever possible, if that
was not possible some mfg. made the switch from Propanol to Ethanol, which is
much less aggressive to the skin and has been successful in most.
When you have
IPA/ethanol based products there is the risk of getting drowsy/dizzy but that
is in no way linked to the particles, it's usually the solvents that cause
these symptoms.
When you use any type of
coating you should always wear gloves (well you should always wear gloves, no
matter what you use) and the room should be very well ventilated; then there
shouldn't be any problems. One should also keep in mind that the particles
remain on the surface as the solvent evaporates.
I will reiterate the use of
personal protection equipment (PPE). As a minimum- skin protection in the form of nitrile gloves, eye protection in the form of
safety glasses or a face mask if pressure spraying the coating and a NIOSH-approved
half face respirator equipped with a combination filter cartridge should be
worn while using them.
Consult the current 3M Respiratory Selection Guide for
additional information or call 1-800-243-4630 for 3M technical assistance.
Paint
Coating Safety Concerns - http://togwt1980.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/paint-coating-safety-concerns.html
Always wear appropriate personal protective clothing to include:
Safety glasses, Hearing and Respiratory protection
·
Eye Contact: May
cause severe irritation to the eyes. Use protective measures to avoid contact.
·
Skin Contact: May
cause skin burns with redness. Use protective measures to avoid contact.
·
Inhalation: May
cause irritation of mucous membranes if vapour or mist is inhaled.
Silicosis happens by breathing the dust
particulates of silica (glass), which cut and scar the lungs, causing damage,
which results in diminished lung capacity. So where does the silicon dioxide
enter into this equation as a safe product to breathe when applied as a spray?
Liquid glass is actually a mixture of
caustic soda, quartz sand, and water are prepared in a mixing tank, then fed
into a reactor, where steam is introduced. The reaction is (n SiO2 + 2 NaOH →
Na2O•nSiO2 + H2O). Sodium silicate is spherical silica in a liquid state, which
essentially means ‘liquid glass’ crystals which are smooth and round instead of
sharp and pointed.
Because there are no sharp edges to
damage lung tissue it is relatively safe to breath. But why would we think it
is safe to fill our lungs with round glass any more than with jagged sharp glass
particles? Do the lungs have the ability to process and get rid of the
‘spherical’ shapes through the blood stream?
Is ‘liquid silicon dioxide’ really
‘colloidal silica,’ or is it ‘sodium silicate’? Silicon dioxide = SiO2 and
Sodium silicate = Na2SiO3. Colloidal silica is simply the liquid spherical
shape of silicon dioxide while sodium silicate is silicon dioxide with an added
salt element (Na). Both products are derived from the second most abundant
element on Earth – sand.
I would strongly suggest you do not
breathe it in but use the appropriate personal protection. If you were to
examine the urethane clear coat with high-performance electron- microscope, you
would see lots of fissures or micro holes. Nano sized silica glass particles
penetrate these fissures to form a mechanical anchor with the clear coat,
creating a durable finish that won't fracture
Respiratory Protection (N95): Materials
such as aluminium oxide (Aluminium oxide is on EPA's TRI list if it is a
fibrous form) or silicon carbide (Nuisance particulate-Accumulation in lungs)
used in polishes and compounds, and powdered fillers Crystalline silica
(polishes and compounds) poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause
silicosis and Isocyanate clear coat residue represent a hazard to your lungs
and may cause respiratory distress.
The reliability of any respiratory is
dependent on proper selection, training, medical screening, and respirator
maintenance. Use a NIOSH-approved half face respirator equipped with a
combination filter cartridge should be worn while using them
Consult the current 3M Respiratory
Selection Guide for additional information or call 1-800-243-4630 for 3M
technical assistance
Any problems that may become apparent
are mostly due to the solvents that encapsulate the silica particulates, the
most often used solvent / carrier system is a dilute isopropyl alcohol or
ethanol water solution. Obviously there are no problems with water and other
VOC-free solvents.
When using IPA/ethanol based products in
an unventilated environment there is the risk of drowsiness or of becoming
lightheaded, but that is a factor of the solvents used not the Silica particles
- it's usually the steams of the solvents that cause these symptoms, Be
cognizant the particles remain on the surface as the solvent evaporates - they
are not in the steams.
Material data sheets (MSDS)
Be aware of dangerous ingredients and request
Materials Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS) from the manufacturer if there is any
question. An (MSDS) is required under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
and must comply with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29CFR 1910.1200)
The MSDS is a detailed
informational document prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a hazardous
chemical. It describes the physical and
chemical properties of the product. MSDS’s contain useful information such as
flash point, toxicity, procedures for spills and leaks, and storage guidelines.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE is specialized clothing or
equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard. General work
clothes (e.g., uniforms, pants, shirts or blouses) not intended to function as
protection against a hazard is not considered to be personal protective
equipment.
For your safety and the legally required
protection of employees (using personal protection is not an option) you will
need to have personal protective equipment available for you and your
employees. At no time should you
endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. OSHA
standards require that employers maintain or improve workplace conditions to
protect employees.
Protection from
Potential Health Hazards
Much easier to work without it,
but the cost of your health should never be put ahead of convenience or slight
discomfort. Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to include: Safety
glasses, Hearing and Repertory protection, along with Boots, Chemical resistant
gloves, Aprons, No loose fitting clothing or articles that may be caught in
moving parts, Avoid belts with buckles that may damage painted surfaces, Avoid
sharp objects that may damage leather or fabric upholstery
OSHA Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3151.pdf
1.
Warning: Always use a
ground circuit fault indicator) (GFPI) when using any electrical device around
water Electricity, you can't see it and you can't smell it; you
only know you have found it when it finds you
2.
Eye Protection: I would
strongly advise the wearing of safety glasses or visor (prescription eyeglasses
are not a substitute) when operating any machine polisher. OSHA
requires employers to ensure the safety of all employees in the work
environment. Eye and face protection must be provided whenever necessary to
protect against chemical, environmental, radiological or mechanical irritants
and hazards.
3.
Hearing
Protection; the constant pitch of a polishing machine could affect your
hearing so wearing ear plugs would be wise to protect you from hearing loss.
4.
Hand
Protection; Gloves- with the
verity of chemicals a detailer uses on a daily basis wearing chemical-resistant
gloves resist penetration and permeation, and will provide protection against
dermatitis and chemical burns. Gloves can provide protection, but they must be
chosen with care, the proper selection matched to the hazard is critical as
they offer a much needed protective barrier when handling cleaning chemicals
such as wheel cleaners and multipurpose cleaners.
Nitrile gloves
are made of synthetic latex. They contain no latex proteins and offer excellent
resistance to punctures and tears. Nitrile gloves are three times more puncture
resistant than rubber and can be used to offer superior resistance too many
types of chemicals. Nitrile gloves are usually not recommended for use around
solvents like thinner or reducer because the solvents penetrate the gloves (use
Vinyl).
Chemical-resistant
gloves resist penetration and permeation, and cam protect against dermatitis,
chemical burns and corrosion. Nitrile gloves are three times more puncture
resistant than latex rubber and can be used to offer superior resistance to
many types of chemicals. Unlike other latex gloves, Nitrile gloves have low
resistance to friction and are very easy to slide on
Thioglycolic acid, ammonium and sodium salts that many ‘colour change’
wheel cleaners are formulated with are harmful upon skin contact and may cause
irritation, redness and inflammation
5.
Respiratory
Protection (N95): Materials such as aluminium oxide (Aluminium oxide is on
EPA's TRI list if it is a fibrous form) or silicon carbide (Nuisance
particulate-Accumulation in lungs) used in polishes and compounds, and powdered
fillers
Silica ingested
orally is essentially nontoxic, on the other hand, inhaling finely divided
crystalline silica dust can lead to silicosis, bronchitis, or cancer, as the
dust becomes lodged in the lungs and continuously irritates them, reducing lung
capacities. Crystalline silica (polishes and compounds) poses a serious
inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis and Isocyanate clear coat
residue represent a hazard to your lungs and may cause respiratory distress.
Use a NIOSH-approved half face respirator equipped with a combination filter
cartridge should be worn while using them
Consult the current 3M Respiratory Selection Guide for additional
information or call 1-800-243-4630 for 3M technical assistance.
UK - http://www.hse.gov.uk/respiratory-protective-equipment/
6.
Material Safety
Data Sheets: Use a ring binder or
other filing system to ensure the appropriate MSDS is always available to
identify hazardous substances
7.
Work Hygienic
Practices: Rinse cloves under running water before removing them
8.
Chemical clean-up: small spillage: absorb spill with an inert absorbent
material (vermiculite floor absorbent or other absorbent material e.g. dry sand
or kitty litter), then place in a chemical waste container. If liquid has been
spilt in large quantities clean up promptly by scoop or vacuum.
9.
Protect
yourself, work safe. As in
all things, allow common sense to prevail and proceed with due caution
10.
It is
the responsibility of the operator to fully comply with regulations relating to
his trade, this also applies to the storage of flammable liquids.
11.
See
also OSHA regulations - http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1910
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)
is the UK law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous
to health - http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics.htm
I would like to think that these articles become an asset to
anyone who is new to detailing and to professional’s alike, as well as industry
experts who seek to advance their knowledge.
I hope the
article are informative.
By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’
as well as the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand how the
chemicals we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you would share
these articles as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.
Questions and/ or constructive comments
are always appreciated.
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