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. That is a shocking statistic, At least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. *Note that there are reports that a fresh air system is . When the project is complete, you can take a relaxing soak in your new tub, knowing it was refinished correctly and safely. If the room where it was used is flushed with fresh air, perhaps by using a small fan, it is unlikely that any methylene chloride will be present or continue to leech out days after the re-glazing was done. We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. Step 1: Set up the ventilation system. If bathroom smells awful two days after resurfacing is that just the coating or also the dangerous MC? Alternatively, you can search on Methylene Chloride and Safety Data Sheet for a listing of various SDSs for similar products. So we need extra care. We need to know what all are used while doing refinishing. Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. Concessions return to the NYC rental market as recession fears slow leasing activity, The pros and cons of buying a penthouse apartment, Racism and the lack of diversity in the appraisal business, Making sense of the NYC real estate market with Jonathan Miller, The Brick Underground Podcast: Predators in the NYC rental market, with Hannah Levintova from Mother Jones, The Brick Underground Podcast: Protecting against fire and floods in your NYC apartment, The Brick Underground Podcast: Finding a deal as NYC landlords pull concessions and raise rents, The Brick Underground Podcast: Trading your NYC apartment for a cheap(er) vacation. I am not an overly caution person, but I understand that in certain instances it is important to exercise caution. At high enough levels, it can stop breathing. This post was helpful to me too. Usually coatings can be removed with a good razor scraper.sure it takes longer but it keeps me from using more harmful chemicals. All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. The first one was a very long process because there was no air circulation what so ever si the two part paint kit kept separating from one another which kept me in the room with only my Tshirt pulled over my nose. My business is in the UK, safety of workers is as important over here. When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? I have 15 years experience with bathtub refinishing and stripping. It can and will save your life. NIOSH has not evaluated isocyanates exposure among bathtub refinishers but products containing isocyanates should also be handled with care. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. Hello. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. The maintenance man telephoned 911 and then a second maintenance man. We do not have any information about the paint chips that are peeling off of your refinished bathtub. If you just bought a Mercedes, would you put a rubber mat on the roof? White asks. It is now peeling off. I have actually replaced a dead refinisher who has lossed his life stripping a bathtub. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. I have been home for about 3 hours now with every window and balcony open and these posts are freaking me out! My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. 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. The health issues that you can face immediately and also in the future are not worth the risk. Very interesting. Any other surfaces in the vicinity of the tub should be covered in protective paper and drop cloths, and you should wait a day or two to remove everything and use your bathroom and tub. I like taking baths, but will not do so in this tub now knowing how unhealthy it actually is. I think this blog is very helpful in knowing about the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products.We need to know what all are used while doing refinishing.Thanks a lot for sharing. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. 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. 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! 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. Since Bathtub Refinishing can also be a consumer issue, another potential resource is Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au. Cristine. The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. You should ask the installer to check that the product was applied correctly. I own a small bathtub refinishing business and we have committed to stay away from M.C. Im going to book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once per week. It got so strong it burned my throat and eyes. They hold soap scum, body oils, dirt, basically everything that comes off the human body will form a paste of scum. These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any 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. Pay $64.00 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. Brooklyn resident Emily Gilbert had her familys tub and part of the bathroom wall reglazed four-and-a-half years ago (, Moving to NYC after college? This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. Long story short, today my face is red as a tomato and I feel very unsettled and almost as if i drank 3 beer. Great information. They were all exposed to open tanks of Methylene Chloride and cutting up bodies causing carbon monoxide. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? Most tubs can be reglazed if they are not overly damaged, but the process is generally recommended for steel, cast iron, or fiberglass tubs. Is it safe to stay???? Very good to know, Ill let the pros do it from now on, and let my readers know the same. Thanks for your comment. I have been in hat business for 20 years. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. Vapors from this liquid can collect in the bottom of the tub and cause the person refinishing the tub to asphyxiate or even suffer from a heart attack because methyl chloride turns to carbon monoxide in the body, cutting off oxygen supply. I live in a small one bedroom apartment and I just had my tub resurfaced. Thanks for your comment. So, if the concentration were over the PEL, for example at 50 ppm, the workers would exceed the 25 ppm average limit in 4 hours. We tried to open our window a bit. Resurfacing is when we paint the counters, cabinets or tubs. Thanks for this information. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. Why is this not part of a home inspection, when you move into a house, built in 1950? White is popular, but we can do pretty much any color you have in mind. The prep is the most important part of the job, says White. I have a chipped tub that is built in with tile walls. Located at [http://www.refinishersonline.com] and I helped in two the studies before this report was finalized. We had one bathtub redone in our old house a few years ago but I think they just re-coated it. I washed the tub thoroughly and have been using it since. Fumes associated with bathtub stripping chemicals have taken the lives of those that did not follow the warnings on the product. Liners can leak and create mold problems. It feels toxic, but no one has instructed me to leave, so am I to assume that I am safe? I have 3 kids in a tiny apt in Brooklyn. 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. Hovering over a bathtub, unprotected, while stripping it would overtake anyone in a very short amount of time. Until the finishing dries, it is a good idea to leave the house. My friend was left to work alone in the small enclosed space, with out supervision. $ 89 00. What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. God bless you! I wish I had read this blog before the procedure. Some healthcare providers specialize in assessing environmental exposures (see http://www.aoec.org/index.htm). Lead poisoning is a serious risk for young kids. I usually like to do things myself, but I think I will have to find someone to do my bathtub repair in concord ma. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. This forces a refinisher to use a very strong stripper. So glad I read this. Works on all types of surfaces. Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. This is horrible People please do not use these DIY kits. When methylene chloride enters the human body, it affects brain function, such as concentration. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. 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. I had my bathroom resurfaced including the bathtub 4 weeks ago. As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. There is also a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for which the average exposure cannot exceed 125 ppm over any 15-minute period. 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. I think this post was very helpful in knowing the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. I think there should be more regulation on access to such chemicals and certainly there should be stringent training laws in place when it comes to using such chemicals. CDC twenty four seven. The fumes from stripping a tub of its previous coating(s) can contain methylene chloride, a colorless liquid that smells similar to chloroform and emits VOCs, aka volatile organic compounds. Thanks! Your blog has provided useful information for the work. Perhaps this us not the case. It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. It is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. Then, remove any cover plates, drain plugs and bathtub spouts. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. I had my cast iron tub reglazed on a very hot humid day. When selecting a PID care must be taken to make sure that the instrument is equipped with a lamp that has the ionization potential necessary to detect methylene chloride (11.7 eV lamp). Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Refinishing Porcelain & Fiberglass Bathtub Reglazing/Refinishing Service. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? After an hour again, I decided to take a ride to feel fresh air. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure such as you describe. Why? The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. I am ok with both tub and tile appearance until I can afford a replacement/bath remodel. 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. Hello my name is Kris I amthe owner at Tub Klass NJ. If the cost of removing the old tub and installing a new one versus reglazing are similar or your tub is particularly old or damaged, it might be better to get a new one. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. However no one is to blame, and no one is at fault. My puppy also is constantly licking the floor. What are the effects of being in the house during the process (for our pets) and after the process (chemical wise around our kids). We refinish or "reglaze" bathtubs, showers, wall tile, bathroom sinks and counters as well as . Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. Bathtub refinishing is a necessary maintenance step if you wish to improve the appearance and structural integrity of your tub. What a great reminder to always plan for and wear personal protective equipment. What a Useful Post and great shared to Plumbing Service, Thanks author your Awesome tropic and Excellent Content. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). I didnt think too much about it. Many stripping products (including those that may also be available to consumers) contain high percentages of methylene chloride. Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. 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 highly toxic Teri. Workers are exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in and by absorbing it through their skin. My little dog had trouble breathing during the night and I had to go to urgent care for a chest xray. To ensure their safety, the employees should have left the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. Hi, this is all so helpful. Keep up the good work! Great Post i appreciate this thanks for sharing this post . Delivered to your inbox twice weekly - for free. Second tub went smoother because I had a window to open for air circulation. My building was recently sold and our rent was raised by 100 percent. Thank you. Also you should understand between difference between Refinishing (without removing the old layer first) and Reglazing (stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub) a Bathtub. I myself am in the process of creating a technique that will eliminate the need for methylene chloride. i come back again this blog, any way i think This is a great article. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. After collecting these samples following the NIOSH analytical method the samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. If the chemical you are using is marked as flammable then you can be sure that it is not 100% MC. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. But I keep on hitting dead ends. Sometimes, its less expensive to replace a tub than to get it refinished, especially if its a rare type of tub made of an unusual material. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Pros will have the correct gear, knowledge of how to ventilate the space and protect themselves, and familiarity with the various chemicals used so you dont need to worry about keeping yourself safe. How much should you renovate your NYC apartment before selling it? If you've been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. Scratching the tub would not release any methylene chloride vapors. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! ARE THESE REGLAZED TUBS DANGEROUS AFTER THE PROCESS DRIES? I am Gary Goel owner of the Professional Bathtub Refinishers Association. I think this type of finish should be banned. The warning labels should be more elaborate about the safety requirements. information posted by individuals on this site is correct, and disclaims any liability for any Half-mask respirators may NOT be used because methylene chloride may cause eye irritation or damage. Thank you so much for this great article and hope that others now are aware of the safety measures that need to be followed. I have so many friends that are a part of DIY pages that encourage individuals to attempt these kinds of projects on their own, unknowingly knowing some of the real dangers. My friends name is Kevin H. The incident happened Thursday April 27th at 4pm. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. I never post anything anywhere. I opened my windows, all four. Things just happen and when its our time to go, we go. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. It is an odd sized bathtub so I did not even consider ordering a replacement custom-made. I am concerned about having a surface that is toxic and that can harm my family in the long run. Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing kits and professional refinishing products alike are not to be inhaled or absorbed by your skin. Ive also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. Bathtub refinishing fumes are most certainly dangerous during the application process and immediate curing process. The story notes also that worker protections are weak a shop in Chattanooga TN with numerous OSHA violations got fined only $1500 for the death of a teenage employee in 1999, and 7 years later, still had not implemented required safety measures. I was weak though and shaking, felt faint and nauseated. 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. There is not any ventilation in the bathroom either. Thanks to those whoever posted this article. I stayed home all day, working around the house because there were two workers and didnt want to leave strangers in my home. Unfortunately, manufacturers tend to play-down the immediate and especially long-term exposure risks from degassing (fumes) that occur perhaps over the next month or more. This may be less of a danger than with old lead-based paints, but something to be aware of. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. Can you give me any help in researching to determine if the polyurethane/acrylic finishes leaches? See the NIOSH topic page dedicated to occupational safety and health hazards associated with Isocyanates (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html). 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. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. If the room where it was used is flushed with fresh air, perhaps by using a small fan, it is unlikely that any methylene chloride will be present or continue to leech out days after the re-glazing was done. Thank you for your comment. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. 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. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. He did it 6 years ago when we moved in. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. Please take proper safety precautions, as well as warn others of these seriously dangerous situations. If this could be dangerous, government should put strict in purchasing this kind of toxic to avoid casualties for workers and even consumers. Last night I went to bed with a headache, then vomited on and off throughout the night. good cotent, i like it. Your email address will not be published. Avoid or minimize spraying methylene chloride. Its generally a task best performed by professionals due to the hazardous chemicals involved. "My glazing lasted three weeks before it began to peel from a tiny spot in the center of the tub," she says. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? This Northern California real estate agent is living the green Dream. I have stripped hundreds of tubs. 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. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. Thanks for the post on this. The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. We do not have any information about leaching of polyurethane/acrylic bathtub finishing. We are sorry to hear about your symptoms. I didnt realize this was so deadly. I have read many articles but this is different one. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation.
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