Is it possible?

[Itchy&Scratchy]

I have been working with glass and polyester for many years(20) hence my name Itchy& Scratchy and the fact that I love the Simpsons-genius. Homer is a God!

and Ive never had a problem with the styrene etc that it gives off, but lately whenever I work with it and bodyfillers I come home with massive headaches.

Is it possible to become allergic to such substances and before you shout wear a mask,I do but you cant wear a mask for ten hours a day.

May be there is a doctor on board who may be inclined to throw in his oar on this one.
Itchy

[gonzo]

Everyone gets sensitized to it sooner or later. Why can't you wear a mask ten hours a day?

[Itchy&Scratchy]

I suppose technically you can wear a mask for the whole day, but its not comfortable.

I see Gonzo youre now in Spain, I was wondering if you were going to be in the UK for, and if you were going to the boatshow? We could have a couple o beers there.

[gonzo]

I am not sure I want to go into that snowy mess there now.

[G8R]

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/m...al-sensitivity

Most MD's don't think it's real, I use to be a painter and now I get a splitting headache if I smell any VOC's

[SamSam]

Studies of these effects in workers exposed mainly to styrene have been inconclusive.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/hesi...ts/styrene.pdf

As long as it has an economic value, as in what else are you going to use in the fiberglass industry, there will be no conclusions until there can be no denial. The same as it was with tobacco, asbestos, etc. My wife said she could smell it in my exhalations while I was sleeping, 10-12 hours after working with it. It can't be good. Acetone is another thing you don't hear about.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

Thanks G8R that makes for interesting reading.
Im not one who normally squeals too much about my health but these symptoms are starting to worry me a little.

I once asked a reputable polyester company if they new of anybody who had suffered long term illlness or death from inhaling polyesters and related products and their reply was that nobody had ever died from exposure or continuous inhaling of these type of products.

I would be interested to hear from others in the industry.

Itchy

[Itchy&Scratchy]

Sorry SamSam, I mean thank you to you as well, both very interesting articles.
i suprised there havent been a few more comments along this line of health and composites work, but maybe its better for many not to think about it too much.

[Landlubber]

I am sure it does affect you...I used to do a lot of antifouling by roller, headaches every day after about 4 teays of it....never have a headache now...very rare...and guess what....no antifouling either.

My old tech teacher could not even open a can of epoxy, he was buggered....

Working with both resins, Vinylester and Epoxy (though not personally), I can tell you the labourers get ill from both when we do´nt protect them. Having headaches I see as a sign for getting ill, so I take that for serious.
Most of them find it much easier to avoid skin contact with Ep (mainly hardener), than working under a mask with poly resins.
Although I´ve been told many times that poly does´nt harm the people, I do´nt buy that.

Regards
Richard

[Landlubber]

...yep Apex, and on that same line...I am quite convinced that the sanding of fibreglass affects my lungs, even though they say it is impossible, why do I have to cough at night for no apparent reason so many times.

[gonzo]

You should read the warnings on USA and Canadian packages. They are quite explicit of the long term exposure dangers. There is a lot of it online too.