NIOSH analytical method 1001 is typically used to sample for methylene chloride in a workers breathing zone. It seemed like this article focused more on the concerns of MC and not ISO is there a follow up article that is just based on Isocyantes? This may be less of a danger than with old lead-based paints, but something to be aware of. DIY Bathtub Refinish Kit with SlipGuard in White. Tub Cast Ekopel 2K Bathtub Refinishing Kit - Made In The USA - Odorless 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 (323) 396-1030. sales@reglazinglosangeles.com. See the NIOSH topic page dedicated to occupational safety and health hazards associated with Isocyanates (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html). An apartment maintenance man entered the apartment to look for the man and found him behind the closed bathroom door, unresponsive, and slumped over the tub. The process commonly involves removing the bathtub's existing finish before applying a new coating, usually a synthetic finish such as polyurethane or epoxy. I had to keep the windows shut with the air on all night. He came home and seemed fine for a few days and then suddenly died. Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. I just bought this old house that has this beautiful tub if only it can get restored back to new. The following recommendations on respirator use are in the NIOSH/OSHA Alert. Frequently Asked Questions - Bathtub Refinishing - Miracle Method I asked the doctors if they collect lifestyle information and report it to the government so correlations can be made about cause and effect they said no. Resurfacing is when we paint the counters, cabinets or tubs. She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. Effective ventilation would have to be ensured in order to shield the worker from toxic fumes of the process. I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. The product they used is from Napco and is supposed to a lot less toxic than other products. Exposure to as little as six ounces of methylene chloride-based material has been enough to cause death. Remove the overflow plate from the tub and begin the caulk removal stage.Start by removing the caulk around the tub where it meets the tile surround. We tried to open our window a bit. Let the physician or health care professional know the specific products and chemicals used and the environment you were working in. Understanding the Fumes Associated with Bathtub Refinishing But the air looked pretty fume filled to me This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! Thank you for this post. There is apparently limited research on this issue, but there are case studies of some children getting lead poisoning from bathing in an old bathtub that was leaching lead. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. I did two tubs in old houses yesterday. My tub was removed from my home and refinished by a company here in Portland, OR. I have an article on my site entitled Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. However, we have no information about the risks that might arise to the resident from exposure to the flaking surface of the refinished tub. More needs to be done to protect the workers!. I would really like some reassurance. Refinishing Porcelain & Fiberglass Bathtub Reglazing/Refinishing Service. thank 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. We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. Apartments | Specialized Refinishing Co. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects of such dangerous products. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. Keep up the good work! We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. An expert starts by sanding down the tub's. It is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. 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. My tub didnt look.bad at all except for being dusty from disuse.maybe they cant tell the difference. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. That is pretty serious stuff. Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. I live in Newark housing and I have been there for 11 years and every 9 months they have to paint the tub and I have to stay in the house after they paint it and it keeps messing up can you tell me what should I do. Bathroom fans or open windows do not provide adequate ventilation. So glad I read this. Hello Personally the bathtub reglazing odor resembles the aroma of a room after it has been painted and therefore the fragrance will keep within the facility for up to 2 days, this is not body odor we are . You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. There is not any ventilation in the bathroom either. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . Fumes associated with bathtub stripping chemicals have taken the lives of those that did not follow the warnings on the product. 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. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? If youve got an old bathtub(or bathroom) and youre investigating your options for giving it an upgrade, youve likely come across the term reglazingalso known as refinishing or recoating, which can revive a tiredtub or evenold bathroom tile. My head and stomach hurts, and I have a bad taste in my mouth. Very helpful and will definitely be one of the things to look out for on my rehabs.. Great article. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. Lowering exposures, even below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. You should ask the installer to check that the product was applied correctly. The tub needs to go. 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 would also like to issue one other caveat. Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? We'll put an entirely new finish over the existing tub or tile in your bathroom. refinish or reglaze it or just replace it altogether. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). I guess this is one of those occupational hazard jobs when doing bathtub refinishing. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. Wearing a dust mask should not be confused with fitting a respirator with organic cartridges. 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. It was not adequately explained and we should have asked more questions. Together we can make the nightmare of stripping bathtubs a thing of the past! 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. share Share. The fact of the matter is that using a professional that is trained and well-versed in the safety measures of bathtub refinishing; is critical, and can not only protect the owners of the property, but those performing the job! 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. When working with stripper or using solvents,acid,etcas well as applying your refinishing product.ALWAYS USE A FRESH-AIR SYSTEM..NOT MASKSmasks leak so they dont give the protection you need for long term exposure.I use a mask only when Im outside mixing or gathering my equipment when the job is finished and I should be using the fresh air system while I do that.Also cover your skinsome of these chemical will get into your body through your skin.Good LuckKeep yourself safe..DO YOUR RESEARCH. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. Some refinishing products may last longer than others, as with professional-grade finishers and DIY kits. Our beloved pet went into respiratory failure the next day, was rushed to the ER and spent three nights in the veterinarian ICU. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. What separates a good job from a not-so-good job is not so much how it looks, its the prep. Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. I think this type of finish should be banned. Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. Im also dealing with such kinds of things because Im a plumber by profession. tl;dr: Accidentally fell in the bathtub so hard it left a hole. http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00. His death could have been easily prevented if he had simply had a co worker outside the door to verbally check on him every 30 seconds. Also, you may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. (273) Questions & Answers (148) +3. Hello my name is Kris I amthe owner at Tub Klass NJ. 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. 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. These chemicals are no joke and need to be taken seriously. She said if its not life threatening then they wont do it. CDC twenty four seven. I recently had our tub sresurfaced as well as kitchen counters done, and the smell was so strong I dont know how these guys can do this every day. I sure wish homeowners not use those diy Kits. I also worry about the health of those doing this kind of work. I regret it so much! It took me a little bit to get used to, and while it doesn't look super cool, it's clean and an upgrade from the '90s pink tile for sure.. UNTIL RE-GLAZED? Theres no such thing as excessive safety precaution. As a research agency, we do not have regulatory authority over the labeling or regulating on how methylene chloride is sold. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. Dear Mr. Ronald M. Hall, you probably save my life with this article! There were 13 Fatal Exposures to Methylene Chloride Paint Strippers Among Bathtub Refinishers in the last decade. (Centers for Disease Control) Not to mention those who experience unexplained symptoms that go undiagnosed that may also be caused from these dangerous bathtub refinishing and paint stripping chemicals. At high enough levels, it can stop breathing. print Print. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. In February 2012, a worker using a product containing methylene chloride to refinish a bathtub was found dead, slumped over a bathtub in an unventilated bathroom. Those DIY kits are not cutting it. In order to assess whether you may be experiencing health effects due to a toxic exposure, seek a medical evaluation from a healthcare provider. The fumes had traveled through the vent into her adjacent room. Gerda. Even with treatment, lead poisoning can permanently affect a childs development. You get enough toxic chemicals in your daily life without adding additional products that harm you by breathing its toxic fumes or being absorbed into your skin. Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. I think this should not be happening after 4 weeks but dont know what to do about it. If proper ventilation is not possible, there needs to be a supervisor on watch in the room, or at least directly outside the door, ready to open immediately if the worker inside does not verbally respond to continuous 30 second verbal safety checks. Capital region housing in edmonton is the worst. Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. I have personally resurfaced in the past for investment properties, and have smelt the sweet smell, but never was affected , luckily. THANK YOU! The coating and sanding are done alternatively. Bathtub refinishing fumes are dangerous and you do not want yourself or anyone in the home breathing them. Thanks! Its good to know that if you have your bathtub reglazed, you much have proper ventilation. Provided your surface was prepped correctly, you can expect your reglazed tub and/or tile to be good for about seven to 10 years, and the more you take care of it, the longer it will last. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. Ya, very helpful articles are posted. How Long Does Reglazing a Tub Last and How Does it Work Thanks for sharing. The company who gave me 6 year warranty has disconnected the phone number. Agree with your perspective. Unless you have access to all the necessary protective clothing and equipment and are confident in your bathrooms ventilation system as well as your DIY capabilities, you should hire a professional to handle it. Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. Wow! I have one side of my nose feeling congested and post nasal drip and a headache. Thank you for your comment. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? Im not familiar with the Australian occupational health and safety system but you might want to start with Safe Work Australia http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA . Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. Should you refinish, reglaze or replace your bathtub? - Today This is in Australia. I have used this product recently on a tub used all the proper PPE and approved NIOSH mask and jump suit and I have tasted this awful taste in my mouth for a couple of days its been 2 weeks and I still kinda feel it in my chest. We also welcome your input on the prevention practices mentioned above. Posts: 19. Or should I leave? Ive spoken with many other tub resurfacing company owners and employees, and most of them do not use or even own full-face air-supplied respirators. The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. So we need extra care. Its also useful to mention that there are different types of chemicals which use MC as an active ingredient. Thank you for introducing this sensitive topic in such a way I never thought these chemicals were so dangerous. After collecting these samples following the NIOSH analytical method the samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. What's included in a deal sheet when you buy a NYC apartment? We're starting to see chipped areasThey're more in the tub than on the walls. Stay safe! I had my bathtub refinished yesterday and the door to the bathroom had remained closed while the worker was doing the job. However, the human body can quickly become desensitized to the smell and a worker may be overexposed even if he or she can no longer smell it. I am unknown form this . Good to see so much effort going into bringing awareness to bathtub refinishing in Waltham. Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. I opted in for your Feed too. Eyes, skin and residual in clothing adsorbption can also be significant and detrimental. I think regulators should be aware of these dangers. My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. Open the bathroom door and as many . Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? 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. Our research focused on worker exposures from methylene chloride during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. I will stress this to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. Thank you. It gives me hope to see that some commenters are specialists who are trying to recreate safer and more effective processes that will phase out use of this agent. This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. Hi, this is all so helpful. Thank you for your comment. After the bathtub has been stripped and resurfaced how long is the danger from the Methylene chloride still in the air? You also want to keep shampoo bottles and other products off the surface, aswell as a mat with suction cups. My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. 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. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and would have fully evaporated shortly after the project was completed. We slept inside the apartment after the workers did the bathtub glazing, should we go to the clinic to make sure we are fine? It is a less costly alternative to replacing a bathtub; however, the process often involves the use of hazardous chemicals including methylene chloride, acids, and isocyanates. I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. Changing up your tub is a great way to give your bathroom a makeover on a budget, Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. Surely the proper checks should be taken before the products leaves the factory. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. We are not familiar with the finishes you mention. Opening windows and moving away from areas with vapors can decrease or stop continued exposure. When the door is closed for a while it gets very strong and when its open one can hardly smell it but that does not mean it is not there. I am Gary Goel owner of the Professional Bathtub Refinishers Association. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. How much should you renovate your NYC apartment before selling it? What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? I live in a small one bedroom apartment and I just had my tub resurfaced. 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. [MI, USA] Botched reglazing of apartment bathtub results in one cat Pre-leasing now launched at 595 Dean St., the newest rental development in Brooklyn's vibrant Prospect Heights, The roommate dilemma: It's much more expensive to rent an apartment in NYC all by yourself now. Workers often spray or pour a bathtub stripping product into the basin of the bathtub and then brush the product onto the tub surface. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. Heart attacks may occur even before any other symptoms of methylene chloride exposure occur. Today, my apartment filled with fumes, and I feel sick. After an hour again, I decided to take a ride to feel fresh air. I have been refinishing tubs for 23 years. I am thankful that I found this article before I made a final decision on whether or not to purchase a DIY kit for my tub interior. 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. We have for years been trying to come up with a Stripper that will remove Epoxy DIY kits that do not have the Methylene Chloride but time is an issue.

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