PSA: You can develop severe allergies to Epoxy Resins
Posted by Anstigmat@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 25 comments
I don’t even do a ton of glass work but it’s happened to me. When I work with Epoxy on my boat I run the risk of severe poison ivy like reactions that last for weeks. I’m kind of discovering that this is Epoxy related now because the last time this happened I thought it was Poison Ivy.
This time I was doing some work with Thixo Flex (great stuff for permanent sealing btw). I got a little of it on my forearms. Now I have a ton of itchy raised bumps and this is after washing the area immediately.
I did some digging and it can apparently get much much worse. I guess you get sensitized to it.
Anyway if you want to keep doing projects I recommend full PPE. Respirator, and good disposable coverings to all areas that may contact the resins.
demo_graphic@reddit
Boat chemicals are super toxic and I see tons of people not respecting the safety warnings all the time. Wear a proper respirator, gloves, safety glasses, and long sleeves (or even Tyvek suit) depending on what you’re working on. Also remember to not contaminate your home/boat by bringing your work clothes indoors. All these epoxies, paints and fiberglass are NOT things to mess around with.
hilomania@reddit
Quote:"All these epoxies, paints and fiberglass are NOT things to mess around with."
Epoxies and paints are very manageable when not using exotic aerosolized paints. The big health issue that will screw up amateur builders is sanding fiberglass without respirators and bad dust collection. (the other big issue is hearing damage. You wouldn't believe how many hobby handy men have effed up hearing!)
Unlike polyester or vinylester resins, epoxy is not something you need to protect yourself with respirators for while applying. (Sanding is a different matter.) Vinylester and polyester resins use PKE as a hardener. That stuff is super nasty! Wear eye and respiratory (organic vapor carts!) protection while handling the hardener. Safety glasses are always smart, although I don't wear them while applying resins.
The skin covering is what is super important to prevent epoxy allergy sensitivity. Before the epoxy gels the hardener contains components that can lead to such sensitivity. One the epoxy has set, it's as inert as any other plastic.
The contamination of resins are messy, but not necessarily bad for your health. Cured resins are pretty inert.
Chewy-Seneca@reddit
The hardener is the gnarly stuff, the resin base is typically pretty mild.
But yeah, respirator, cover up, decontaminate thoroughly. I like my job, id be sad if I couldn't do fiberglass work any more
dwkfym@reddit
I think fumes from curing is also harmful, but maybe not as bad as when its absorbed through your skin.
runsailswimsurf@reddit
A notable distinction here is set vs cured. Once fully cured, epoxy is pretty inert but if it’s gumming up your paper you need all the ppe still. Of course, in a perfect world we’re only sanding after full cure, but that’s another story.
Motosoccer97@reddit
I believe you are correct in saying that. But I can't find a good source to back up that belief when I need it. You don't happen to know a good resource for that kind of thing do you?
hilomania@reddit
Not exactly. I went over different resins' OSHA safety data sheets a few decades ago. Of the top of my head (what stayed with me) is that the PKE is nasty in any form (breathing, touch) while epoxy hardener can be allergenic before it sets and touch needs to be avoided.
With the exception of PKE which can outgas for a while (The reason lockers in new boats tend to have that awful pke smell.) The resins once set do not have any particular negative effects on human health beyond damage caused by breathing particulates. (Wear a mask while sanding people!)
FWIW: I work mainly with epoxy. I will use vinylester in specific situations where I need to be able to laminate multiple layers of glass over a longer period of time, or in situations where I need a fast curing time. Vinylester has a 3-4 month shelf life after production. (Not opened container! After it's made you have a semester to finish the stuff.) SO I buy the stuff by the gallon or quart for specific jobs from fiberglass warehouse. Shops that do resin infusion tend to buy the stuff by the 55 gallon drum... I see no use in polyester resins. The money savings are not worth the hassle vs other resins when one is not doing high volume building runs.
Motosoccer97@reddit
Ty! I'll keep looking. Unfortunately none of the sds I looked at will ever say something "is* safe after it's cured, just how it isn't before hand. Diy isn't easy if you want to do it right lol
e1p1@reddit
Excellent post and warnings, thank you!
Turbulent_War4067@reddit
Everyone will develop a sensitivity to epoxy over time if they are not careful about physical contact with uncured epoxy. I have a friend who built wooden boats back in the 70s, when epoxy first became widely used in the marine industry. He literally cannot come into any contact at all without a major allergic reaction. He says in those days, they did not know about its dangers and never wore gloves at all, they simply washed their hands with solvent after each use. He claims that every single person he worked with developed a severe allergy to it by the mid 80s. He once came to our shop to inspect a build and told us not to use any epoxy for one week prior to his arrival, he was that cautious.
Always wear gloves. Immediately replace a glove that tears. If you get it on you, do NOT wash it off with any solvent; use soap and water only. Epoxy may cure enough to sand, but it is not fully cured for a week or so. You need to minimize the dust on your skin and do not breathe it. I do not normally believe in buying expensive tools, but the reason why I have invested in festool sanders is primarily because their dust collection is so damn good.
I have been using epoxy on a regular basis, sometimes a lot, for 25 years and so far so good, but I am pretty careful. If you have a major project going and suddenly become allergic, you will not complete the project with epoxy.
To not take this lightly. You can use it safely for years and years if you are careful. You will not be able to if you are sloppy. No one is immune to epoxy. In that sense, its just like poison ivy. You may be lucky and not be sensitive to it initially, but you will develop a sensitivity overtime with repeated exposure. It is guaranteed.
mckenzie_keith@reddit
Sorry that happened.
It is mainly direct contact that causes sensitization. Respirator is probably not needed for most epoxies, but it is very important to avoid skin contact. It is also very bad for your eyes, especially the hardeners.
You should use a respirator or clean air supply if you ever spray epoxy.
You should wear a dust mask if you sand green epoxy. Green epoxy is epoxy that has not fully cured yet. It can take epoxy up to a week to fully cure, even though it seems to have hardened.
Heat will accelerate final cure.
Real-Pudding-7170@reddit
I thought I was the only one. West system resin will destroy me. It’s very much like severe poison ivy.
LegitMeatPuppet@reddit
Yes, I have an allergic reaction to any Epoxy these days because I built a fiberglass model boat when I was a kid. My arms and hands bubble up with hives.
-Maris-@reddit
It't not an allergice reaction - it's because these substances are toxic, and your body is reacting to poision.
Wear your PPE folks.
dwkfym@reddit
It also accumulates in your body and doesn't go away. So many kit planes half built on the market because owner can't work with composites anymore.
grumpvet87@reddit
i used to sail/camp w a guy who built boats for years. he ended up owning a local chandlery shop. he did not use ppe much , sanded without a resporator and used solvents to clean gunk off how hands. he now has parkinson's - not sure if it is the cause but i wouldn't be surprised
Supernewt@reddit
I 3d print with resin and am militant about my exposure to it. Gloves all come everything wiped down with IPA and face mask with appropriate filter. If I get anythinh on my skin its tools down and wash it off. Its really no joke. Sorry to hear this but im glad you are raising awareness.
madworld@reddit
This is true for diesel as well. If you are using diesel to clean a part or in any way you can get on your skin, you should wear gloves and keep it off of you.
HealthyHappyHarry@reddit
I got a bad rash when a tablespoon of diesel spilled on my kneeling mat and I ignored it.
honkytonkheart@reddit
Oh man! I've totally heard about that happening to people and that was even outside the boat world
SailingSpark@reddit
I have been building boats with epoxy for almost 10 years now. Wear gloves, change them often, and if you get any on your skin, immediately wipe it off with vinegar. I also use Total Boat which does not have all the stink that WEST has. MAS is another that does not have the harsh smells.
Small_Dog_8699@reddit
Happened to my wife. She developed an allergy after helping me lay up some interior hull mods.
overthehillhat@reddit
I've been allergic to :::
Working on the boat
In general
All of my life
blooztune@reddit
Happened to me. When I was in college I worked for a boat carpenter and did a bunch of glass work on decks, in engine compartments, forepeaks… you name it. This was circa 1980, so zero PPE.
Years later I started building a stitch and tape dinghy with a friend and my face blew up. I tried everything, full PPE, even went as far as to Vaseline all exposed skin.
Since then, if I go into a boat shed and get that very distinctive whiff of curing epoxy, I’m OUT. Otherwise it’s days of puffy face and itchiness.
Peakbrowndog@reddit
My buddy basically developed contact dermititis and multiple allergies from when he restored a boat in his 30s. He always did fiberglass and other projects with no issue. Suddenly, he had a severe reaction and broke out in hives.
The incident triggered/activated a number of allergies for some reason. He cannot work with any catalyst agent, like PB Blaster, epoxy, or any 2 part chemical. He now can only wear natural fibers against his skin, no polyester or anything. Even spraying paint he now has to wear the tyvek suit and respirator or risk breaking out.
I had to finish his boat. Now I don't even store my PB Blaster in my shop, and I didn't use it on anything he might help me with. Once I used it in his driveway, 2 days later while helping me on the same car he had to stop because of the chemical.
Wear PPE. At a minimum, wear gloves for chemical contact and a n95 mask/respirator. Basically if it has an odor/chemical smell you try not to inhale while using, you should have some sort of breathing protection.
Smells are physical particles. When you smell something, there are chemicals going into your body and bloodstream. When you walk into a bathroom and smell sewage, those are sewage particles going into your nose. Chemicals the same way. If you don't want your blood to contain brake parts cleaner or epoxy catalyst agents, wear the PPE. (Yes, I know that's an oversimplification of what happens, but it's enough explanation for all the chemical huffers in here).
Wear PPE.