Allergic Reaction to Epoxy?

[thundercow]

Hey guys. As some of you know from my posts here, I do epoxy flooring. I am pretty much part time at this point, doing floors when I want to. I use (don't want to say brand) solvent-based epoxies in my installations. The stuff is certainly high-quality commercial stuff.

Here's the thing: on the 2nd day of any installation by around the evening, I get a mild itchy irritation on my upper eyelids--nowhere else though. If I ignore it, it goes away in about a day. But if I rub it...it gets worse (like most itches do).

My installer does not report this problem when he works with me.

Has anyone else ever had this? Am I killing myself slowly or just allergic. There is a warning in the data sheets about ethyl amine

 

[W-Cummins]

Hey guys. As some of you know from my posts here, I do epoxy flooring.

Not much longer from the sounds of it!

Here's the thing: on the 2nd day of any installation by around the evening, I get a mild itchy irritation on my upper eyelids--nowhere else though. If I ignore it, it goes away in about a day. But if I rub it...it gets worse (like most itches do).

Yep sounds like your on your way to the end of your application days

Has anyone else ever had this? Am I killing myself slowly or just allergic.

Lots of people are sensitive to epoxies and cant use them. It's an allergic reaction you can do a Google search and find out all the gory details.

William...

 

[Dragster Racer]

What about goggles? Have you tried and do they help?

 

[Stuey]

I just did a quick google for ethyl amine...

Skin, eye and respiratory irritant. Corrosive - may cause burns to the eye. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Very destructive of mucous membranes.

Personal Protection: Safety glasses, good ventilation, butyl rubber gloves.

Step 1: Go to the epoxy manufacturer's website and download the MSDS.
Step 2: Read and understand the MSDS.
Step 3: Adhere to the recommended safety gear.

If you have not been using goggles, purchase a pair and use them. If you need recommendations, let me know.

Upper eyelids are especially sensitive to irritants. Think about it... when you cut onions, what's the first thing to react?

 

[A_Pmech]

Boatbuilders and aircraft composites molders like myself have been suffering with this for years.

Sensitization to epoxy builds over time. At first, the symptoms are mild. Then, depending on the person and exposure, they can progress to the point where you can't be in the same room with the stuff without experiencing severe medical problems.

I suggest a supplied air system with a full-face mask and a full Tyvek suit with booties. I use a portable HobbyAir system, plus a built-in system in the shop with connections in work areas, just like compressed air.

Follow proper chemical procedures. That means not touching any part of your body after the gloves go on, until you have thoroughly washed your hands. Chemical containers are handled with gloves, regardless of whether they have been opened or not. The product is manipulated, as much as possible, by tools and not your gloved hands.

Read and understand the MSDS sheets for everything you use. Be sure your partner does as well.

Take it seriously, otherwise it WILL put you out of business and leave lasting effects on your central nervous system.

You should read this:

http://www.fram.nl/workshop/controlled_vacuum_infusion/allergy.htm

 

[PAToyota]

You can have one person use something for forty years with no problems and another use it once and put them in the hospital.

A friend of mine was in the roofing business and got sensitized to the solvents. Now there is a lot of stuff he can't go anywhere near.

Personally, I've developed a sensitivity to latex over the years.

 

[thundercow]

Hmmn...yes, as I suspected. My main installer has more years than me, and he said once this sort of reaction starts, it justs get worse.

Any ideas on this: is it fumes contacting my eyes--or is it me inhaling the fumes and it getting in my blood (probably fumes contacting the eyes, but I wondered)

 

[Stuey]

Hmmn...yes, as I suspected. My main installer has more years than me, and he said once this sort of reaction starts, it justs get worse.

Any ideas on this: is it fumes contacting my eyes--or is it me inhaling the fumes and it getting in my blood (probably fumes contacting the eyes, but I wondered)

I'd say it's most likely the vapors themselves, but don't risk your health on my guess.

 

[SC-Eric]

Hi,

Epoxy Resin and many curing agents (hardeners) are SKIN sensitizers. That means that people who are sensitive to them can develop an allergic reaction when they repeatedly get epoxy resin on their skins. Also, some people may have an allergic reaction on the first use... it's rare.

So, how can you determine it for sure and what can you do about it?

First, there is an industrial chemicals test that is specifically designed to test for epoxy chemicals. This includes epoxy resins, reactive diluents, reactive sufactants, and amine curing agents.

Second, protect your skin! If you get epoxy on your elbow your eyelids might break out. In other words, don't expect that you only break out where you get the epoxy on you.

Wear gloves... when you go to the dermatologist for allergy testing make sure they also test you for allergy to latex gloves. Use a skin emolient... This is a protective barrier cream that can protect you from skin contact.

We have one chemist and our operations manager who have slight allergies to epoxy. It is rare but it happens. Both of these employees work pretty symptom free because we go to any length to protect them. We have many customers who have employees who are allergic and continue to work by keeping themselves protected.

If you get any epoxy on you... wipe it off immediately!

Next... solventborne epoxies provide a medium for faster penetration of the epoxy into the skin. So, while I've never heard of anyone who is allergic to solvents... the solvents make the epoxy worse.

Oh... does the reaction get worse?
It will if you continually expose your skin to epoxy... Keep it off of your skin. So, see your doc... get the skin test... figure out if it is realistic to protect yourself...

Good Luck...
Eric

 

[nate379]

Sounds like any other alergy.

I used to be mildly lactose intolerant. Now if I pretty much even look at an ice cream cone my stomach gets bubbly. haha.

 

[SC-Eric]

Now if I pretty much even look at an ice cream cone my stomach gets bubbly. haha.

That would ****!

 

[thundercow]

Hey, check it out...me and the installer did a monster 1000-plus square foot floor on wednesday--this time I wore a 3m breather--but no goggles. So far, I haven't had any reaction at all--and my exposure was much greater in terms of time "over the bucket" that I have ever had before. So maybe it's the vapors after all....

 

[Kevin54]

It is something that you do not want to take lightly. Because what rarely affects you today could have profound effects tomorrow. I have a cousin that is a painter. Over the course of the years he has developed and allergy to the isocyanates (isocyanate poisoning) in the newer paints. It has hospitalized himin the past and the rash that he gets is absolutely terrible. It developed over time and did not come on right away. So you want to take precautions whether it is a mask and goggles, or if it looks like you just walked out of the space shuttle.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Hey, check it out...me and the installer did a monster 1000-plus square foot floor on wednesday--this time I wore a 3m breather--but no goggles. So far, I haven't had any reaction at all--and my exposure was much greater in terms of time "over the bucket" that I have ever had before. So maybe it's the vapors after all....

Anything short of a respirator is a joke - and the 3m dust masks are not even good for dust.

 

[SC-Eric]

Hey, check it out...me and the installer did a monster 1000-plus square foot floor on wednesday--this time I wore a 3m breather--but no goggles. So far, I haven't had any reaction at all--and my exposure was much greater in terms of time "over the bucket" that I have ever had before. So maybe it's the vapors after all....

Let me clarify my previous post. I'm not guessing when I wrote my previous statements. We are a manufacturer of epoxy resins and coatings. We know a little bit about it (heavy sarcasm). Unless you are atomizing the epoxy the 'fumes' have nothing to do with it. Rinny_Tin_Tin is correct... dust masks only block dust... NOT vapors.

Alergic reaction to epoxy occurs through the SKIN! Many chemicals (including many epoxy resins themselves) that go into epoxy coatings are skin sensitizers.

Keep it off of your skin! Also, check to see if you are allergic to your gloves (latex).

READ THE MSDS for the products you use and quit guessing! You are taking grave risks by coming to a place like this to figure out why chemicals are hurting you. This isn't something to fool around with. Read the MSDS... Call the manufacturer... Go to a dermatologist and get checked out! Keep epoxy compounds OFF of your skin!

 

[Jaguar Fan]

... Go to a dermatologist and get checked out! Keep epoxy compounds OFF of your skin!

maybe in addition to a regular dermatologist you should see both an Allergist and a Toxicologist.

Or just find a different way to make a living. Be the sales guy & hire employees to install it.

Allergies are no fun. A friend developed food allergies: she became allergic to all dairy products, chicken, and wheat. Now of course food allergies are a different beast, but you get the idea. The allergy you are developing to epoxy could f* up your life.

 

[showroomgarage]

I'm heavily allergic to epoxy and it developed slowly over time. At first it started out as a mild annoyance, but over time my symptoms became more severe.

It eventually got to the extent that I didn’t even have to come into contact with epoxy, simply the fumes were enough to make me break out, despite having a full body suit, latex and rubber gloves and a breathing apparatus,

After two straight trips to the emergency room and being on an intravenous bag and a prescription of prednisone, steroids and antihistamines my doctor told me this: "You may eventually react to this so strongly that your lungs may fill up with liquid and/or your immune system may shut down". That was enough for me.

As a prelude, I haven’t been in contact with epoxy in almost 3 years, but three weeks ago I moved a one gallon bucket of it from its storage space in my garage to another location. I grabbed the handle of the bucket and even this small 20 second interaction was enough to make me break out in a small rash.

 

[thegarageguy]

I had a similar reaction with one of my workers a couple of years ago. He called in sick and blamed the epoxy, claiming he must be allergic. I thought he was full of it, but when he came in, his whole face was swollen like he was laying dead in a river for a week. Needless to say he couldn't work for me any longer. Too bad because he was a real good guy.

Recently I had a worker that worked with solvent based epoxies and had similar reactions. We kept him to install cabinets. While cleaning our cabinets, he broke out in hives from the solution we used. When we put him on a floor to just mix, he was fine. 100% solids had no affect on him. We came to the conclusion that solvent where the culprit.

Hey Thundercow, try working with 100% solids material and let us know.

Hey Showroom, do you get same reactions to mma's? BTW, love your cabinets!

 

[badzy]

hmmm..i've heard a lot of complaints about the allergic reactions to epoxy. by the way, goggles might work, huh?!

i have friend working in installation hardwood floors saint louis, and he developed the same allergic reaction. I think the best solution to that is consult a dermatologist