Understanding the Fumes Associated with Bathtub Refinishing Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. I sure wish homeowners not use those diy Kits. Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. 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. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. We work a lot with paints and try to stay abreast of the dangers when working with chemicals, solvents and paint compounds. It won't last forever, but it's a pretty good temporary fix. I now have a colostomy, urostomy,skin cancers and CKD(chronic kidney disease)with only one kidney working and that only functions at 15%. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. Ron, Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. This article does a good job calling attention to the dangers of methylene chloride products and noting that many people dont know how dangerous it is. OSHA has regulations that sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 25 parts per million (ppm) as a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure over an 8-hour work shift. I did two tubs in old houses yesterday. NIOSH has continued to try to get the word out to workers and employers about the risks of working with methylene chloride. on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. If I had of done a little research I guess I would of been more informed. The fumes were in her room not mine, i didnt know until i opened the door, we had put on the fan origionally for the smell, fumes came full blown after. Eyes, skin and residual in clothing adsorbption can also be significant and detrimental. A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. However, we have shared the findings of this work and made recommendations to manufacturers and with agencies that may have regulatory/legal authority, including those with oversight beyond the workplace. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Is it safe to stay???? I have an article on my site entitled Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any
How Long Does It Take the Tub to Dry After Reglazing? We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. What's the difference between jumbo and conforming loans? Note that humidity affects both dry time and how well the topcoat bonds to the surface, so the cool, less-humid seasons of fall or spring providethe best conditions for this type of work. NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. I like taking baths, but will not do so in this tub now knowing how unhealthy it actually is. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. I opened my windows, all four. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. ARE THESE REGLAZED TUBS DANGEROUS AFTER THE PROCESS DRIES? The first method uses a benzyl alcohol-based stripper as an alternative to MC and N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP)-based chemical strippers. Thorough prep and and cleaning can preventbig headaches down the road. An expert starts by sanding down the tub's. Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP. Keep posting at all like me gonna turned up at write out paper everyday! CDR Hall is the Deputy Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. If the job is not done right it starts to peel, he says. Thats why we see it a lot in historic neighborhoods.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. My question is, am I in danger using the peeling bathtub??? 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. You can also use your favorite search engine and search using the following key words: Bathtub Porcelain Glaze MSDS Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. I stripped the two sinks using a chisel and a heat gun. Superior heavy duty Reglazing. Mostly problem is that it can broken. Refinishing a bathtub is a fraction of the cost to replace your bathtub (around $2,900), so if youre at all hesitant about your DIY skills, hiring a pro is a somewhat small price to pay for your health and safety.
It smelled awful for days. Thanks to those whoever posted this article. NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. Use long-handled tools (e.g., scrapers, brushes) to avoid leaning into the bathtub. We do have pets and have young kids.
Fatal Exposure to Methylene Chloride Among Bathtub Refinishers United Alternative products and processes exist for bathtub refinishing. Brooklyn resident Emily Gilbert had her familys tub and part of the bathroom wall reglazed four-and-a-half years ago (read more about that here), and overall, is pleased with the results. Gerda. Some will work but they require 24 hours of wet saturation and even then they require a lot of hard work. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. Publication number 81-8c-2013. Most tubs can be reglazed if they are not overly damaged, but the process is generally recommended for steel, cast iron, or fiberglass tubs. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! I think there are actually regulations on workers on how long they may be subjected to this chemical during a work day. good information Gail Scott i agree with you . A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing kits and professional refinishing products alike are not to be inhaled or absorbed by your skin. Thanks! Bathtub refinishing fumes are dangerous and you do not want yourself or anyone in the home breathing them. It has one small rust stain and is still moderately shiny. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. Lead poisoning is a serious risk for young kids. We tried to open our window a bit. But if we ever have it done again, I will definitely check to be sure its a safe process for the workers AND the homeowners. What is the LEAST TOXIC alternative for bathtub reglazing?
[MI, USA] Botched reglazing of apartment bathtub results in one cat It is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. Thanks if you reply. The Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) program at the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has profiled two businesses that successfully strip bathtubs without MC. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. Thanks for telling us now. During this process, the holes and cracks in the bathtub will also be repaired. With just a day or two of work, reglazing the centerpiece of your bathroom with a durable coating and color is an easy way to give your tub a quick facelift without breaking the bank. I also have a 6 year oldshould we leave? Some healthcare providers specialize in assessing environmental exposures (see http://www.aoec.org/index.htm). Now its already peeling. I used this kit 6 weeks ago. Although we cant say there is any particular hazard from these paint chips, it would be prudent to prevent your toddler from eating the paint chips or bathing the toddler in water with material that is degrading from the tub into the water. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. 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. It's 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. Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and fresh makeup air to exhaust vapors released from the stripping agents in the bathtub. Contractors who handle bathtub refinishing or reglazing are well-versed in the health risks and OSHA (the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Association) guidelines for risky jobs like these, making it an easy choice to bring in an expert for the task. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. and it was very helpful for people, In addition to the hazards of strippers, old porcelain bathtubs, sinks and tiles manufactured before the mid-1990s could also have lead in the glaze, which could leach into bathwater, or if sanded or scraped could form a dust that if ingested by young children (who touch it with bare skin) could cause lead poisoning. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. i like it. Things just happen and when its our time to go, we go. According to OSHA, you must also provide local exhaust ventilation and make-up air to replace the vapors removed by the exhaust. Why? I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail.
Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous? I very much agree with you, that safety and health is a very important thing in our lives, The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. Its highly toxic Teri. Is there any danger that the enamel could have absorbed the refinishing chemicals to be released into my bath water at this later date? Ive read some incredible information in this article. Those DIY kits are not cutting it. 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. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. Even if you hire a professional, let the area air out and keep it ventilated after the work is complete until you can no longer detect any unusual or chemical odors. We can ask questions and be well-informed. Bathtub. My building was recently sold and our rent was raised by 100 percent. The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. Almost any color or appearance can be achieved, including the look of natural stone or marble.