skin absorbing paint.

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Panelwagon62

I've always thought that when spraying solvent based paints with out a paint suit or just wearing a mask the solvents can actually absorb into your skin, tear ducts etc. Today I was told different. I was told solvent just lays on your skin and you can just wash it off, waterbourne on the other hand with absorb into your skin because our bodies are made of water.......sounds like bull to me so I am hoping someone can confirm this for me.
 
Many of your activators you use in automobile refinishing contain isocyanates (particularly clears and primers). Icocyanates are attracted to moisture, i.e. eyes, and skin if you are sweating. So yes, it's important to wear appropriate resporitory protection and attire. Some of your cheaper paint suits will allow isocyantes to penetrate through. Always be cautious when dealing with chemicals. A fresh-air respiratory sytem is the best, if you can afford one. A charcoal type resporator will in fact block isocyanates, the problem is isocyantes are odorless and tasteless, so you never know if you are being exposed to them. The best bet is to test fit your respirator if you are going charcoal, and keep it sealed when not being used, or even better go with a fresh-air system so that you are not breathing any of the air in the exposed environment. Solvents are systemic, meaning they will penetrate your skin and can be detected in your blood stream in a short period of time. Wear gloves and appropriate ppe(personal protective equipment) and you'll be safe to enjoy painting for a number of years.
 
Many of the modern medicines are administered by skin contact either a patch or a gel.
They have a strong alcohol odor to them.
A solvent by the trade name Chlorothane is know to go right through you skin and end up in your liver.
the list is long, be careful is the moral to the story.
 
I dont know of many painters that use a shoot suit or concern themselves with iso's getting in the eyes.. If I felt the need to bundle myself from head to toe, I think I would find some other way to make money or find a healthier hobby..

That is my personal opinion.. It does not reflect the opinion of the board..

I know there are those that do cover from top to bottom but in my environment all of that would not work.. I wouldnt be able to see or move around.. Technically we are all going to live forever.. Just not here :)
 
It's all bad for you, I think everything autobody related is unhealthy, can't think of any aspect that might be benificial healthwise except the exercise. So know your safety precautions and exposure limits before doing any of it if you're concerned. I even wear a dust mask when buffing.
 
" I think I would find some other way to make money or find a healthier hobby.."
Damn I said that years ago. But after doing so many other things in life, I still find myself doing this. Both for money, and as a hobby.
As we get older,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,, , the time in our life gets shorter, If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself!
Each of those spaces equal 10 years, well, not quite, but,,, Life is short, and I "my new years resolution" am resolved to the fact, I should protect my health as much as I can.
Damn I need to spend some money on some better equipment.

Thanks for reminding about my mortality.
 
I was taught years ago that if you stuck your hand in lacquer thinner, seems too me they said in 10-15 seconds, it would show up in a urine test.

Had no reason not to believe but don't know if 100% accurate but point is, skin should be covered.
 
I wear a suit for 2 reasons. To keep the paint off me and hair or whatever else out of the paint. Used charcoal for yrs but thinking about a fresh air hood. Now that seems cumbersome!
 
I myself am very aware of the dangers and saftey, i wear a respirator when spraying anything, even welding and grinding always wearing a mask. When this person was telling me this i couldn't believe it......"you can just wash the solvents off" ......yeah right. Does waterbourne have the same effect?
 
Waterbourne is full of harmful chems.. I remember the painters at Ford, telling me that the reps for Dupont told them the water base coat was soo safe you could drink it.. I about fell off my bench when they told me that.. Disclaimer.. Its not safe to drink folks.. No paint is safe to drink!! Anyways, just because water is in the make up, does not make it less harmful
 
i call bullshit. i can tell exactly when the chemicals hit my blood if exposed . i suit up and wear gloves. i've seen the tuff guys when they are told they have a serious problem from exposure. they become experts and start wearing all the gear. guess what..... too late my friend. one of my old painters refused to wear a mask when shooting stripes in lacquer. he knew it all. he died at 41 from copd . if you are not going to protect yourself get the hell out of the business . this stuff WILL kill you.
 
Antifreeze is water-based. Last time I checked you shouldn't drink it or pour it into the sewer system. I don't understand why the majors keep promoting waterborne as safer for the environment. If anything, it's probably more dangerous.
 
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