Harmful Chemicals to be Cautious of in Building Materials…
Benzene… is a colorless, flammable hydrocarbon derived from crude oil. It decomposes at high temperatures, forming toxic vapors that may cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and confusion. Its use has been tightly regulated in the United States for years, but thresholds for benzene exposure have never been established.
Acrylates…are a family of polymers, which are a type of vinyl polymer. Acrylic acid and its acrylate esters are used in a range of modern applications: super-absorbents like disposable diapers; also fibers, coatings, paints, adhesives, waxes, even cosmetics and toothpaste.
Isocyanates…are highly reactive chemicals typically found in the hardener of two-part paints and primers. Isocyanates are present in two forms, monomer and prepolymer. The isocyanate monomer content is frequently indicated in Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), but this is only a small part of the total unreacted isocyanate present. Both forms of unreacted isocyanate are a risk to health when they are released into the air during paint or primer spraying.
Breathing unreacted airborne
isocyanate can cause coughing, chest tightness, fever, fatigue and sensitization.
Many cases of isocyanate-related sensitization have occurred in Saskatchewan.
Once a worker is sensitized, further exposure to even very small amounts of
isocyanate will cause distressing asthma-like reactions. The reaction may occur
immediately or several hours after exposure. One exposure to a high airborne
concentration or several exposures to lower concentrations may result in sensitization.
There is no proven method for predicting whether any particular person will
become sensitized if exposed to Isocyanates.
Direct skin contact with isocyanates may cause rashes, blistering and reddening
of the skin. Repeated skin contact may cause skin sensitization.
Eye exposure to airborne isocyanates can cause eye irritation and temporary
blurred vision. Direct contact with the eye may cause damage to the cornea.
VOCs…(volatile organic compounds) are the fumes that you smell while you paint, and sometimes several days after. A VOC is an organic chemical that becomes a breathable gas at room temperature. Some examples are benzene, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride and mercury.
VOCs in paint usually come from additives to the paint, such as fungicides, biocides, color, and spreadability agents. High levels of VOCs in paints can cause headaches, allergic reactions, and health problems in the very old, very young and in those with chronic illnesses.
Concerns about air pollution and hazardous waste have greatly reduced the use of oil-based paints, which can release high amounts of VOCs and contain toxic solvents. Alkyd-based paints and latex paints are much safer, but some still have high levels of VOCs.
Ethylene glycol ethers…are a group of chemicals with a wide variety of uses. Primary uses include solvents in paints, cleaners and inks. Some ethylene glycol ethers are recommended for use only in industrial applications; others have wide use in industrial, commercial and consumer applications.
Glycol ethers have many uses; these include use as solvents and as an ingredient in cleaning compounds, liquid soaps, and cosmetics. Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of the glycol ethers in humans results in narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage. Chronic (long-term) exposure to the glycol ethers in humans may result in neurological and blood effects, including fatigue, nausea, tremor, and anemia. No information is available on the reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects of the glycol ethers in humans. Animal studies have reported reproductive and developmental effects from inhalation and oral exposure to the glycol ethers. EPA has not classified the glycol ethers for carcinogenicity.
Formaldehyde…is used in industry in the manufacture of glues and is also used as a preservative in cosmetics and for embalming bodies. Formaldehyde mixes easily with water but will not mix with oil or grease. It is common to find formaldehyde in aqueous cosmetic formulations such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, liquid hand wash and bubble bath, even products designed for children have formaldehyde in them Formaldehyde, a colorless, pungent-smelling gas, can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing in some humans exposed at elevated levels (above 0.1 parts per million). High concentrations of formaldehyde may trigger asthma attacks in susceptible people. There is evidence that some people can develop sensitivity to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde has also been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. Health effects from exposure to formaldehyde include eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergic reactions. May cause cancer. May also cause other effects listed under "organic gases."
Formaldehyde can affect you when you breathe its vapors and/or touch the liquid. Because formaldehyde reacts quickly with body tissues, it mainly affects sites of direct contact, such as the lungs and eyes and skin. The most common effect of mild overexposure is irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.
Hydrochloric
acid …or hydrogen chloride, is either a colorless liquid with
a pungent odor, or a colorless to slightly yellow gas which can be shipped as
a liquefied compressed gas. It is used in the manufacture of phosphoric acid,
chlorine dioxide, ammonium chloride, fertilizers, dyes, and artificial silk
and pigments for paints. It is used as a refining ore in the production of tin
and tantalum, as a lab reagent, and as a metal treating agent. It is used to
remove scale and dust from boilers and heat exchange equipment, to clean membranes
in desalination plants, to increase oil well output, to prepare synthetic rubber
products by treating isoprene, and to clean and prepare other metals for coatings.
It is used in the neutralization of waste streams, the recovery of zinc from
galvanized iron scrap, the production of chloride chemicals, the production
of vinyl chloride from acetylene and alkyl chlorides from olefins, the manufacture
of sodium glutamate and gelatin, the conversion of cornstarch to syrup, sugar
refining, electroplating, soap refining, leather tanning, and the photographic,
textile, brewing, and rubber industries. It is used as an antiseptic in toilet
bowls against animal pathogenic bacteria, and in food processing as a starch
modifier.
Exposure to hydrochloric acid can cause circulatory collapse, which may lead
to death; it can also cause asphyxial death due to glottic edema. It can also
cause conjunctivitis and corneal burns, inflammation and ulceration of the respiratory
tract, dermatitis, skin burns, rhinitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis,
pulmonary edema, dental erosion, hoarseness, a feeling of suffocation, nausea,
vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, convulsions, oliguria, hypotension,
chills, shock, lethargy, stupor, permanent visual damage, cough, and choking.
Ingestion or skin contact with hydrochloric acid can cause corrosion of mucous
membranes of the mouth, throat, and esophagus, with immediate pain and dysphagia;
it can also cause gastric hemorrhage and intense thirst.
Lead…
The most sensitive parts of the body are the kidneys, the blood and the central
nervous system. Because children are developing, they are more susceptible to
the effects of even low levels, once thought to be safe. These effects include
birth defects, reduced IQ, learning disabilities, stunted growth, hearing loss
and behavior problems.
Benzidine…can cause cancer. This has been shown by studies of workers who were exposed for years to levels much higher than those experienced by the general population. It is important to note that most of the workers did not develop cancer, even after such high exposures. When cancer does occur, most often it is cancer of the urinary bladder. Some evidence suggests that other organs such as the stomach, kidney, brain, mouth, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, bile duct, and pancreas may also be targets. Experiments with animals have also shown benzidine to be a carcinogen. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the EPA have determined that benzidine is a human carcinogen. In addition, dyes made from benzidine, such as Direct Blue 6, Direct Black 38, and Direct Brown 95, have been shown to be carcinogenic in animals, and there is some evidence that they may cause bladder cancer in humans. The DHHS has determined that Direct Black 38 and Direct Blue 6 are carcinogenic to animals, and IARC has also determined that Direct Black 38, Direct Blue 6, and Direct Brown 95 are carcinogenic to animals.
Toluene…is
an organic liquid with a sweet, benzene-like odor. The largest chemical use
for toluene is to make benzene and urethane.
The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using
this chemical at home or work. Trade Names and Synonyms: Methylbenzene, Methacide,
Phenylmethane, Toluol, Antisal 1A
Short-term: EPA has found toluene to potentially cause the following health
effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively
short periods of time: minor nervous system disorders such as fatigue, nausea,
weakness, confusion.
Long-term: Toluene has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime
exposure at levels above the MCL: more pronounced nervous disorders such as
spasms, tremors, impairment of speech, hearing, vision, memory, coordination;
liver and kidney damage.
PVC...stands
for polyvinyl chloride, a type of plastic found in hundreds of products including
children's toys and medical products. A chemical added to PVC plastic to make
it soft and flexible.
Uses: Food packaging, plastic wrap, containers for toiletries, cosmetics, crib
bumpers, floor tiles, pacifiers, shower curtains, toys, water pipes, garden
hoses, auto upholstery, inflatable swimming pools
Effects: Can cause cancer, birth defects, genetic changes, chronic bronchitis,
ulcers, skin diseases, deafness, vision failure, indigestion, and liver dysfunction