CDR Hall is the Deputy Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. I figure if its being done, it must be safe, or why else would people do it? Its generally a task best performed by professionals due to the hazardous chemicals involved. My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. If you are considering refinishing your bathtub or shower, click on Find a Location or call our toll free locator number, 1-888-271-7690 . Not sure if it can come through the walls. But it's not just about looks. We are a BBB Certified Resurfacing company located in Houston, Texas. However since Kevin was an organ donor, they kept his body on life support, in order to preserve is heart, liver, and kidneys. I've set up fans to direct the fumes out the screen door and left the premises. I thought it would be a simple spray paint job. I was researching because i just had a bad experience. I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. But the air looked pretty fume filled to me This is a nightmare for someone with my health issues! After reading this post I think I can live with those scratches until I can hire a professional. Unfortunately, manufacturers tend to play-down the immediate and especially long-term exposure risks from degassing (fumes) that occur perhaps over the next month or more. NIOSH work in this area only pertains to workers exposed when using stripping agents containing methylene chloride during bathtub refinishing. Together we can make the nightmare of stripping bathtubs a thing of the past! The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. $ 89 00. We are sorry to hear about your health issues. No one deserves to go through this heartache of losing a friend, due to a situation that could have easily been avoided. It is now peeling off. if we do we get evicted. I feel sure many, many more have died from methylene chloride than we know why is this so? Do these products continue to leech into air/water once project is completed? It hurt to know, the four of us where in a room together for what will be the very last time. After a few years, she was diagnosed with lung cancer (she never smoked) and died in 1999. AND DURING CLEANING. It is a less costly alternative to replacing a bathtub; however, the process often involves the use of hazardous chemicals including methylene chloride, acids, and isocyanates. HomeAdvisors True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. The past three days have been the hardest in my entire life. *By signing up you agree to receive occasional emails on behalf of our sponsors, Copyright 2009-2022 by BrickUnderground | PrivacyPolicy | TermsofService | AdChoices | Login, National Association of Real Estate Editors. Exposure to methylene chloride can be lethal. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. Its the very first time I call at your blog, however was very impressed. We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. 22 oz. DIY Bathtub Refinish Kit with SlipGuard in White From now we must be aware if wanna to do that. Thanks! It was a cold day, so I went back inside. Scratching the tub would not release any methylene chloride vapors. We had one bathtub redone in our old house a few years ago but I think they just re-coated it. It was a small job, and I messed up with the paint brush I used, leaving lines in the finished product. Are Bathtub Refinishing Fumes Dangerous? If methylene chloride is used, ensure that the room is adequately ventilated during the entire refinishing process. If you are referring to paint strippers (which is what methylene Chloride is used for) one consideration would be using alternative methods, such as sanding. We slept inside the apartment after the workers did the bathtub glazing, should we go to the clinic to make sure we are fine? Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. This seems informative and makes a very nice image on the topic in my mind. Agree with your perspective. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday! My concern is whether it is safe to take long soaks in this tub. I own a small bathtub refinishing business and we have committed to stay away from M.C. Vapors from this liquid can collect in the bottom of the tub and cause the person refinishing the tub to asphyxiate or even suffer from a heart attack because methyl chloride turns to carbon monoxide in the body, cutting off oxygen supply. When we find a company to do it, Ill be sure to make sure that there is plenty of fresh air. Thank for sharing about bathtub refinishing. However, you need to keep these essential health and safety considerations in mind whether you hire a contractor to refinish your tub or do it yourself. In order to assess learn more about the products that are being used for the re-glazing, assess the air quality of your apartment, prevent exposure or remediate any hazards, seek assistance from the building owner or manager. Although we cant say there is any particular hazard from these paint chips, it would be prudent to prevent your toddler from eating the paint chips or bathing the toddler in water with material that is degrading from the tub into the water. I opened my windows, all four. ive found a majority of the time the diy kits people use never adhere well. I also have a 6 year oldshould we leave? We understand the importance of protecting ourselves, the environment and most importantly our customers. A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. I think this should not be happening after 4 weeks but dont know what to do about it. The odor and fumes were suffocating. A person directly outside the door and 30 seconds could have saved our best friends life. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Material data sheets, now referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are prepared by those who sell chemical products. What are the governing bodies that oversee these applications? The specific effects of methylene chloride exposure will vary depending on several factors, such as the amount of methylene chloride the worker is exposed to, how long the exposure lasts, and whether the worker has a higher susceptibility (for example, having a preexisting heart condition). PDF BATHTUB REFINISHING AND FIBERGLASS EXPERT - Reglazing Los Angeles It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtub's appearance and repair surface damage. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. God bless you! 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. Brooklyn resident Emily Gilbert had her familys tub and part of the bathroom wall reglazed four-and-a-half years ago (read more about that here), and overall, is pleased with the results. 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. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The bathtub/shower in my apartment was reglazed this morning. Then, remove any cover plates, drain plugs and bathtub spouts. Tub Cast Ekopel 2K Bathtub Refinishing Kit - Made In The USA - Odorless When the door is closed for a while it gets very strong and when its open one can hardly smell it but that does not mean it is not there. The use of methylene chloride can be reduced significantly by professionals. We should all gather together and come up with solutions that are even better than what we are presented with now. Care must be taken to ensure that workers are not overexposed to particulates being generated during sanding operations. They yellow like crazy, and they are solvent based, slow drying so they off gas, and they never hold up. Pay $64.00 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Unless you have access to all the necessary protective clothing and equipment and are confident in your bathrooms ventilation system as well as your DIY capabilities, you should hire a professional to handle it. When is the best time of year to buy or sell a NYC apartment? When methylene chloride enters the human body, it affects brain function, such as concentration. I think our tub would look so much nicer if we had it refinished. I gave my 2 year old a bath a little more came off. I use it in good ventilation and, if Im going to be doing much work, I use a respirator. It seemed like this article focused more on the concerns of MC and not ISO is there a follow up article that is just based on Isocyantes? A bathtub replacement can cost around $2,900 on average and may add value to your property. The Health and Safety Executive is our policing force that helps prevent the tragic consequences of injuries and even fatalities in the workplace. Using methylene chloride products in a bathroom is extremely dangerous as bathrooms are often small, enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. Wow this is kinda hard to believe that even a thing such as messing with a bathtub can be so dangerous. Vanity of a tub isnt worth 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. Please do not use a torch either The fumes will kill use. During the entire refinishing process, the room should be adequately ventilated to protect workers. At Specialized Refinishing, we have a team of highly experienced, certified refinishing and reglazing technicians who can restore and revitalize a wide variety of surfaces and fixtures in your rental property or before you put a house on the market. There may also be substitute stripping products or methods however, please be aware that substitute stripping products may include other harmful chemicals or hazards, so use substitutes safely. There is not any ventilation in the bathroom either. Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. Their cost is at least twice as expensive as Miracle Method refinishing and can take up to 3 to 4 weeks from ordering to installation. White advises keeping away fromcleansers likebleach oreven Soft Scrub. Anyone who is curious to try alternatives to MC-based strippers are encouraged to read these small business success stories. Is that legal? Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. We have absolutely no ventilation in our apartment. Our research focused on worker exposures from methylene chloride during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. I am unknown form this . Always wear hand and eye protection. Thankyou for letting people know this danger alert! More needs to be done to protect the workers!. Will these chemicals be leaching out of the surface, presenting a health concern from contact? White uses a portable fume exhauster, and HVLP, or high-volume, low-pressure sprayers, which produce less overspray. We face inspections every year where lots of tubs are refinished in this building.but no precautions are ever taken to protect the residents and their animals. The prep is the most important part of the job, says White. Opening the windows is necessary, but it's certainly not enough if you're working with methylene chloride. It always falls on us, to make sure, inspections we pay for, cover areas of higher hazard. Mimi OConnor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. 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. Even low income people dont deserve treatment like Ive seen and been through. It was not difficult and required no chemicals; the refinisher evidently did a very poor job of it. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. All comments posted become a part of the public domain, and users are responsible for their comments. Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. Im not familiar with the Australian occupational health and safety system but you might want to start with Safe Work Australia http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA . The nearby exterior door was open for ventilation and the overhead fan was blowing and although they had a pipe going from the bathroom down the hall and out the front door this was not sufficient. I worked at [Company name removed] for 14years. And that tub refinishing is at top of my list besides them running heat too much. Methylene chloride is extremely dangerous when not used properly, this is an understatement, but Im glad its finally being brought to peoples attention. Stay safe! Fatal Exposure to Methylene Chloride Among Bathtub Refinishers United i like it. I have no experience in this type of work, my day job is a guidance counselor, but I started thinking about how we might prevent these fatalities from happening going forward, if using MC.