Dear Mr. Ronald M. Hall, you probably save my life with this article! This research only focused on worker methylene chloride exposures during bathtub refinishing. They know where people bathe. It's also possible to injure yourself if the product comes in contact with the skin. It is often referred to as dichloromethane and has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. ), [Its] a great way to make a grimy, stain-ridden bathtub look new again, says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor'ssmart home strategistand home expert. I regret it so much! I believe in situations like these, two or more workers would be present in the bathroom, when proper ventilation is impossible. There is still a strong smell in my bathroom espicially when it is hot and humid. Thanks for the post on this. For example, if your pipes have burst, spilling water into the unit, a day or two may be reasonable, assuming that the landlord can employ a qualified repair person within that time period . The paint in the bath tub is pealing off after one use. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. There is also a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for which the average exposure cannot exceed 125 ppm over any 15-minute period. Those DIY kits are not cutting it. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. Thank you for spreading the word on the importance of this! Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. We do have pets and have young kids. We do not have any information about leaching of polyurethane/acrylic bathtub finishing. Refinishing is also the best option with antique tubs that dont lend themselves to relining. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. And, are there any substances that are dangerous and can later leach into bath water and be absorbed by the skin? What that means is that at room temperature, methylene chloride will evaporate very rapidly, much more rapidly than water. We are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. Im a Painting Contractor in Anchorage, Alaska and this is a really good post for me to see! I had my tub reglazed recently. What are the effects of being in the house during the process (for our pets) and after the process (chemical wise around our kids). After a few years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer (she never smoked) and died in 1999. Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I thought it was re-porcelained but have just been told that it was refinished with a polyurethane/acrylic finish. Last night I went to bed with a headache, then vomited on and off throughout the night. It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. If you are referring to paint strippers (which is what methylene Chloride is used for) one consideration would be using alternative methods, such as sanding. Together we can make the nightmare of stripping bathtubs a thing of the past! These chemicals are no joke and need to be taken seriously. Thanks! I would really like some reassurance. Is that smell dangerous for children? I have blocked the drain over night but it did not eliminate the smell. Some many companies and professionals are offering their services for the people for refinishing, repairing, remodeling things. I would concenr it to home owners wanting to get bathtub resurfacing done. NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. 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. Gerda. 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. During this process, the holes and cracks in the bathtub will also be repaired. very useful post thanks for giving this bath tub repair information. All are members dread strip jobs.Frankly I dont know why someone would choose them. Since Bathtub Refinishing can also be a consumer issue, another potential resource is Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au. Thanks for sharing. 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. 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. I was researching because i just had a bad experience. Bathtub Refinishing 101: Tackle This DIY Project in 7 Steps ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! The prep is the most important part of the job, says White. I am exposing myself by soaking in this tub? She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. 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. It was a cold day, so I went back inside. good cotent, i like it. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. In workers with heart disease, an increase in carbon monoxide may lead to early onset heart attacks and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. I manage a home related business in Australia and we are often exposed to applications that we are unsure of what dangers we could be exposed to. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. The fumes are strong in the bathroom so I have the bathroom door closed, vent on. Wow this is kinda hard to believe that even a thing such as messing with a bathtub can be so dangerous. 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. Works on all types of surfaces. At high enough levels, it can stop breathing. 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. It is unsafe that s why we recomendto contact a professional to stripit for you. The company who gave me 6 year warranty has disconnected the phone number. Real time instruments such as Photoionization detectors (PIDs) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Tub Cast Ekopel 2K Bathtub Refinishing Kit - Made In The USA - Odorless a great article! Contact me via e-mail njtragroup@gmail.com and send me your ideas. Things just happen and when its our time to go, we go. What are the governing bodies that oversee these applications? Understanding the Fumes Associated with Bathtub Refinishing Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. I have actually replaced a dead refinisher who has lossed his life stripping a bathtub. You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. Use a qualified occupational safety and health specialist to assist in the design and installation of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to effectively control vapors to below applicable PELs. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Follow all applicable OSHA standards, including the Methylene Chloride standard (. 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. Good to see so much effort going into bringing awareness to bathtub refinishing in Waltham. Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. That is really great to know. (before we had kids). Great amazing blog post I really love such lovely blog posts. Methylene chlorides boiling point is just over 100 F, and has a vapor pressure of 350 mmHg. And Bathtub Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane MSDS. Follow the links to the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) that the search will find. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. Now Im cleaning up the interior; its not in terrible condition, but it has a few chips and the surface is not as smooth as Id like. I have learned some incredible information in this report. Follow good housekeeping measures, including spill and leak control and appropriate personal hygiene practices (such as making skin washing areas available to workers). Is that legal? When the project is complete, you can take a relaxing soak in your new tub, knowing it was refinished correctly and safely. Ive asked for a materials data sheet and nothing. Like many cancer-causing agents, any level of exposure, even concentrations below applicable occupational exposure limits, may pose a residual cancer risk. Thank you for your comment. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. The following recommendations on respirator use are in the NIOSH/OSHA Alert. I wish I had read this blog before the procedure. 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. Thanks for your comment. Thank you for sharing this useful information. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. I would like to know. Care must be taken to ensure that workers are not overexposed to particulates being generated during sanding operations. There are bathtub refinishing companies out there, [company name removed] are using safe processes for refinishing your bathtub, you just have to ask the tough questions. It is an odd sized bathtub so I did not even consider ordering a replacement custom-made. I was doing some research on tub reglazing when I found this article. share Share. Should you refinish, reglaze or replace your bathtub? - Today If you know the name of the product that was used, you may be able to find it by searching on the Internet. Thank for speaking about about tub refinishing. 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. Lead poisoning is a serious risk for young kids. There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. discovered that the fumes were coming through the vent in her bathroom. Your blog has provided useful information for the work. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. Bathroom fans or open windows do not provide adequate ventilation. Acid is then applied to deglaze the tub and/or tile, followed by a bonding agent or primer, and finally, a urethane topcoat is applied. These instruments are non-specific and will measure other VOCs present in the area in addition to methylene chloride. My best friend was killed two days ago due to over exposure while cleaning a bath tub. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. My cat and I were both really sick afterwards and my cat has now passed on.no one told us to go anywhere else, my cat was unable to be transported anyway and so was I since Im handicapped. theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. 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. We are sorry to hear about the symptoms that you experienced and hope you are doing better. Ive also learned that without experience or training, what may be simple in concept is often the opposite in practice. Now what about substances that are used in bathtub refinishing as final top-coats such as Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane, or, another, as one company advertises: Porcelain Glaze-a new type of chemical finish. What is porcelain glaze? I never post anything anywhere. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page.