theyre dangerous if not dealt with properly. I am a first time user of the refinishing kit. 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. Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. This post was helpful to me too. And, are there any substances that are dangerous and can later leach into bath water and be absorbed by the skin? I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. I am a 48 year old single woman, who tries to do everything myself, and I am really concerned about how dangerous this is. I refer to this CDC article a few times a month when answering questions from customers. Really I like got very valuable information here and Looking forward to read your Upcoming Post. Now its already peeling. Dear Mr. Ronald M. Hall, you probably save my life with this article! We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. 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. You can review and change the way we collect information below. 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. All are members dread strip jobs.Frankly I dont know why someone would choose them. Its used to strip paint and varnish from furniture which will be refinished. If your bathroom has a window, set a fan near it pointing outwards; this will help move air and dissipate the fumes. The apt right next to me was just resurfaced and the chemicals came through the air vents. MC is not flammable on its own. We refinish or "reglaze" bathtubs, showers, wall tile, bathroom sinks and counters as well as . 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 got so strong it burned my throat and eyes. Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and fresh makeup air to exhaust vapors released from the stripping agents in the bathtub. However, products are more dangerous when they are sweet smelling, and as your article states your are already exposed once you smell it. Traditional methods used for detecting methylene chloride involve air sampling pumps (calibrated at the desired air flow) and a sampling train with charcoal tubes as the collection media for methylene chloride. Dont do it if you have to stay in your home immediately after. Today, my apartment filled with fumes, and I feel sick. /box. Most tubs can be reglazed if they are not overly damaged, but the process is generally recommended for steel, cast iron, or fiberglass tubs. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. Its staff and technicians from any and . The Centers for Disease Control has more information on lead hazards on their web site. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. But if we get together as a group of experienced bathtub refinishers I am positive that we can come up with a simple solution that will keep us safe. Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? on the dangers of isocyanates in coatings and application hazards. If methylene chloride is used, ensure that the room is adequately ventilated during the entire refinishing process. Hover Image to Zoom. 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. I have no shower, only this bath and no space for one. I think our tub would look so much nicer if we had it refinished. A great thanks to you to let us know about the fact. My business is in the UK, safety of workers is as important over here. I use it in good ventilation and, if Im going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. As exposure increases so do the health effects, with a potential for suffocation, loss of consciousness, coma, and sudden death. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? If you've been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. He wore proper equipment, however ventilation was not adequate. Things just happen and when its our time to go, we go. It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. Which brand names or compounds should consumers ask for? The guy who came to do tub had a fancy breathing mask that covered his whole face and tubes attached to his belt I was concerned when I saw the precautions he took but said it was no problem. Keep in mind that alternative products and other stripping agents may pose additional risks. I noticed the odor every time they went in or out of the room, and had the bedroom doors all closed. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. What is the difference between a muntin and a mullion and are they still used in windows? Karma: 3. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Are these chemicals only toxic while being applied, or can they still be harmful later as used? Im also dealing with such kinds of things because Im a plumber by profession. Thank you. DIY Bathtub Refinish Kit with SlipGuard in White. Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. Bathtub refinishing is being used more by hotels, apartment complexes and homeowners because of a housing downturn, a mortgage-meltdown, and overall depressed and depressing economy as a way to save money in their bathroom renovation. We are sorry to hear about your symptoms. You may want to contact Product Safety Australia http://www.productsafety.gov.au, who assists with consumer concerns like the one you posted. HOPING THE SAME FINEST OPERATE IN THE UP COMING DAYS ALSO. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. 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 . 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). There is not any ventilation in the bathroom either. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers Posts: 19. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Myown life was almost cut short stripping a bathtub and I was using the best Equipment money can buy but machinery or equipment can fail. Very interesting. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. We also welcome your input on the prevention practices mentioned above. Reglazing a tub doesnt actually take that long to do. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. Is that smell dangerous for children? Thanks! When methylene chloride enters the human body, it affects brain function, such as concentration. Kimberly Evans. I think they want things swept under the carpet. Like many cancer-causing agents, any level of exposure, even concentrations below applicable occupational exposure limits, may pose a residual cancer risk. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. Qualified pros will have all the necessary protective gear, including coveralls and masks with HEPA air filters. NIOSH has continued to try to get the word out to workers and employers about the risks of working with methylene chloride. After the bathtub has been stripped and resurfaced how long is the danger from the Methylene chloride still in the air? 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. All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. The fumes were so strong that it gave me a headache and caused me to become nauseated. See the NIOSH topic page dedicated to occupational safety and health hazards associated with Isocyanates (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html). Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. Brooklyn resident (and Brick Underground contributor) Donna Airoldirecently hadher tub reglazed, and she even scrubbed it before her contractor cleaned it. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. They take the dirt out but also take part of the glaze, he says. Hello. Is that legal? Agree with your perspective. My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers, http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/#General, http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA, http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00, https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html, http://jwcpropertyservices.co.uk/bathtub-refinishing-dangers/, https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-quality-apartments, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. I went to clean out the tub to take another shower myself and by just barely cleaning it a whole bunch of paint came off, like over a foot and I was just barely scrubbing! Thats perhaps the number one reason trying to DIY it is not advisable (kits are available, but just leave it to the professionals). 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 are in a rental and I had to stop allowing my daughter to take baths because its everywhere. Thanks for your comment. 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. Thankyou for letting people know this danger alert! 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. If youve been considering a bathroom remodel, then replacing an older tub might just make sense. Refinishing a tub consists of applying a new chemical coating with a special brush or roller to an acrylic, porcelain, fiberglass, or cultured marble bathtub without removing the old layer first. I certainly will be approaching this much differently. When we find a company to do it, Ill be sure to make sure that there is plenty of fresh air. The only ventilation in the hours between the reglazing and now was provided by the slatted windows in the bathroom. I have personally resurfaced in the past for investment properties, and have smelt the sweet smell, but never was affected , luckily. HomeAdvisors True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. No warning that fumes would make me sick. Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. It a huge peeled off spot in the tub, dangerous to me? Is that dangerous as well? I think there are actually regulations on workers on how long they may be subjected to this chemical during a work day. A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers. The bathroom was small, and the door was closed due to restricted access to the bathtub. According to OSHA, you must also provide local exhaust ventilation and make-up air to replace the vapors removed by the exhaust. After working in retail for many years, my mother retired, began buying and refinishing furniture. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly. 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. (Fun fact: You can make it any color you want, so if youve ever wanted a purple bathtub, that dream can be realized.). One of the significant risks of refinishing a bathtub is exposure to methylene chloride or dichloromethane, which strips the tub and removes the previous glaze or finish. The restrictions on placing on the market and use is a consequence of many incidents with lethal outcome. It is the first time I visit your blog, but I was extremely impressed. Could you please advise, will this chemical leech into the water? Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. I have learned some incredible information in this report. Thanks for this information. thank you so much. 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. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride (paint stripper) directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. I took a shower and a 3 inch or so came off. I just rented a housing association flat with an unsightly, badly marked tub. We are sorry to hear about your health issues. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. But I keep on hitting dead ends. As my two other friends and I stood there over our lost brother, we could not help but cry, tell stories of our past together, and wish that he could hear us one last time. Lead poisoning is a serious risk for young kids. What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? Why is this not part of a home inspection, when you move into a house, built in 1950? i like it. Thank you. sprayed with materials that emit fumes which may be hazardous to the tenant's health if inhaled in the working concentration within the first 4-6 hours after completion of the job. Exposure to methylene chloride can be lethal. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. I personally have never heard of this being such a serious problem. It smelled awful for days. Im 70 and have no place to go except my apartment. My cat was crying and jumping on the door to get out. I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. Bathtub Refinishing vs. Liner: Whats Right for Your Home. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. The Health and Safety Executive is our policing force that helps prevent the tragic consequences of injuries and even fatalities in the workplace. Thanks. How to effectively get rid of bathtub resurface smell in my apartment? Jimmy White of Staten Island-based Custom Spraying and Reglazing, who has been doing it for more than 30 years and is considered the reglazer to the starsheworked on Faye Dunaway's and Candace Bergens bathroomssays it can be done in a few hours, plus 24 hours of dry time.

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