Are our favorite products killing us?

Impressions

Impressions

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Are environmental toxins killing us? that is the question

What are we to believe......labels, large chemical companies word about safe products or the companies that sell these products! (no offense AG)

Are the chemicals, waxes, compounds, polishes, etc that we handle and breathe reaking havoc on our bodies imune system?

What can we do about it?

I'm not looking for answers to these questions, I would like for people in the detailing industry to be aware of the dangers in our field.

Hopefully, maybe AG, someone could do product reviews about safety not just what the label tells us.

We all know we should wear protection like gloves and masks but in reality most don't.
So feel free to chime in on your thoughts and feelings please
 
Impressions said:
Are environmental toxins killing us?

Are the chemicals, waxes, compounds, polishes, etc that we handle and breathe reaking havoc on our bodies imune system?

I'm not looking for answers to these questions, I would like for people in the detailing industry to be aware of the dangers in our field.

We all know we should wear protection like gloves and masks but in reality most don't.
So feel free to chime in on your thoughts and feelings please
Click to expand...

Zep Purple in my go to for class 8 vehilcles. The MSDS and warnings from the manufacturer are obvious, and I use caution. But as for the rest of my supplies...?
 
Hi Robert,

I sent an e-mail to some of my friends in this industry to see if they could chime in with their thoughts, below are some general guidelines...


Safety first...
First educate yourself on the product you're using. Contact the manufacture of the products that are staples in your arsenal and find out if there are any health concerns.

Wear appropriate safety gear. If working with dangerous chemicals that can get onto your body, even when blown by the wind, consider wearing a chemical resistant apron, gloves, face shield and respirator. When choosing a respirator, find one that fits correctly and comfortably.

If you find a product you really like but it comes with its own health risks, look for an alternative that will do the same job but do it safely. Sometimes you have to give up speed for safety.

Have appropriate medical supplies handy in case of an accident, things like an eye wash, bandages and the phone number to your Dr. Be aware of the location of the nearest hospital and/or walk-in clinic.


:xyxthumbs:
 
Let me say first it's always safer to use protective gear. Sometimes younger guys don't realize that you can develop sensitivities over time or as a result of aging and suddenly develop reactions to products you were fine with before.

As a pro detailer you also have a lot more exposure time than a weekend hobbyist, that makes it more important for you to be concerned and also to be more proactive in taking precautions.

As far as product reviews about safety--how can you do that for something that might take years to have an effect? Just like it's hard to parse MSDS's because it's much easier for the mfr. to just tell you to wear gloves, so they always do (what I mean is it's difficult from reading MSDS's to tell what is the dangerous stuff and what isn't--because they all tell you to wear gloves, etc.)

Most products now seem to be water-based, and of course most of the active ingredients are silicone-based, which are also used in food and cosmetic products, so I think probably we are a lot safer than we used to be, of course there are the HF and ABF wheel cleaners that I think people are too cavalier about.
 
in my opinion, any chemical vapors and contact or product dusting will adversly affect some system in our bodies over time.

It's very difficult to put 100% faith in what chemical companies tell us about their products.

So for now on I will be wearing gloves and a "high end" mask that is made for what we do when I work.

I know there are "Green" products out there but without these chemicals will they perform the same?
 
along the lines of the OP...we had a really good discussion on the below thread. I detailed my pops car and I was using the WG leather cleaner. There was hardly any air circulation in th garage (door was open too) and I felt my lungs were getting aggrivated by the product hanging in the air after spraying. I had to put a mask on to try to minimize what I was inhailing.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/42226-do-you-guys-wear-masks.html
 
Impressions said:
in my opinion, any chemical vapors and contact or product dusting will adversly affect some system in our bodies over time.
Click to expand...

Boy, from my perspective there are hardly any vapors any more with ODP and VOC restrictions. Certainly inhalation of spray mist or dust potentially will cause problems, magnified by doing it every day.

I remember reading an article about asbestos and your lungs, that your body is actually able to remove the asbestos from your lungs over time. The problem is the time is a lot longer than one day, so you're ok if you breathed some once or once in a while, it's not ok if you worked in an asbestos plant and were breathing more in every day.

So if you are a pro detailer, it would be smart for you to protect yourself from contact (gloves) and breathing spray mist or dust (particle mask), and if there are solvent vapors present an organic vapor respirator.
 
Like the old joke, "I've read so much about the dangers of everything I like to do, I've decided to give up reading."

Setec is right. Use common sense and take precautions when using any chemical. Adding more to the labels would probably lead to fewer people reading it. Keep it Simple, Simon.
 
alko said:
what kind of mask are you using?
Click to expand...

right now just cheap paper (betteer than nothing), but I'm looking into 3M masks, they seem to offer a great selection.

$$$$ should not be a factor in the purchase of a high quality mask!
find what suits you and shop for it's best deal
 
vet said:
Like the old joke, "I've read so much about the dangers of everything I like to do, I've decided to give up reading."

Setec is right. Use common sense and take precautions when using any chemical. Adding more to the labels would probably lead to fewer people reading it. Keep it Simple, Simon.
Click to expand...

I don't read....

that said yeah...commone sense is the best practice.

Impressions said:
right now just cheap paper (betteer than nothing), but I'm looking into 3M masks, they seem to offer a great selection.

$$$$ should not be a factor in the purchase of a high quality mask!
find what suits you and shop for it's best deal
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm definitely looking to get a good quality mask. I am not down for the long term side effects from working with chemicals.
 
I have no firm belief one way or another, but.....I could definitely see microfiber being the new asbestos. We all see the linting on windows and for pro detailers exposed to it everyday I think there is a potential that this become an issue in the future; maybe moreso for the people manufacturing it.
 
This is something close to my heart as I have been detailing for a long time and plan on having many years of doing what I love. While my input is not scientific, I do have a fair amount of medical training both as a EMT and OEC Tech from my years on Mountain Rescue Teams. So, I am going to share with you as both a detailer and as a field technician within EMS.


  1. I have a saying I share with others, "If it's on you, it's in you"! Gloves are a must!! I wear gloves even while using safe, water based products.
  2. When ever I am compounding and polishing, I wear at minimal a dust mask. I have been doing this even when I enter the back shop when others are performing correction work and my lungs are much healthier.
  3. When I dry or wet sand, I am wearing eye, breathing and hand protection. Remember, the eyes absorb materials as does the mouth so you want to take precautions.
  4. Car interiors are unhealthy environments. Recent studies show vehicle interiors have more germs and gunk then most public restrooms. Do a fast pre-clean before entering the vehicle using a cleaner that will work on germs and bacterial matter alike and again, glove up and wear the above outlined protective items.
  5. Good ventilation is everything - For you mobile guys, keep upwind while spraying and don't assume just because you are outdoors, you don't need personal protections items. You do!
  6. Fixed location guys in cold weather environments, invest in an air purifier to get the air moving and remove the bad stuff. This can be spendy, but what is your health worth. Getting fresh air into your shop is important and like I said earlier, even if I enter the back shop to get something, I am now wearing a mask and it's made a huge difference with my breathing and overall health.
  7. Drop the nasties - I read the MSDS sheets and research the info. If I find something that is known to be dangerous, I will find an alternative. I know some things we use are just plan nasty, but if there is an alternative, I would rather be safe and healthy then save five minutes.
Like so many have said before me, it comes down to using your head and sticking with your safety plan. You only have one body and you need to take steps to take care of it!



Happy detailing all...
 
Great advice, Denny! :dblthumb2:




Gloves are a no brainer but some of the masks can be very uncomfortable to wear, especially on hot days. For the most part I don't wear a mask, but when I know I'll be generating a lot of dust or using something nasty I'll put one on. ;)


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Rasky
 
I agree, great advice in here.

I make a strong effort to work as safe as I can, dust mask when compounding, chemical respirator for chemicals.

It may be uncomfortable, but I am sure it is keeping me healthy for years to come.

i-FjXpzPr-L.jpg



I would challenge PBMG products to be more forthcoming with their MSDS sheets. About a year ago I went through and requested MSDS from for all the products I used, and out of all of them, PBMG and Poor Boys were the only two that really hassled me about getting access to them.
 
LegacyGT said:
About a year ago I went through and requested MSDS from for all the products I used, and out of all of them, PBMG and Poor Boys were the only two that really hassled me about getting access to them.
Click to expand...

But you finally got them?
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Let me say first it's always safer to use protective gear... you can develop sensitivities over time or as a result of aging and suddenly develop reactions to products you were fine with before.

As a pro detailer you also have a lot more exposure time than a weekend hobbyist...

Just like it's hard to parse MSDS's because it's much easier for the mfr. to just tell you to wear gloves, so they always do (what I mean is it's difficult from reading MSDS's to tell what is the dangerous stuff and what isn't--because they all tell you to wear gloves, etc.)
Click to expand...

Zep Purple MSDS: Section 2. Hazardous Identifications.

Accute Effects: Avoid breathing vapors, sprays, or mists...can cause Central Nervous System depression...

Ingestion: Over exposure...can produce CNS depression...contains materials which can cause damage to the following organs: blood, kidneys, liver, upper respiratory tract, skin, eyes, central nervous system.

This is only one of the hazardous chemical products that I have been using for over 12 years, on a weekly basis.

IMHO - Tornador users need to exercise caution, not only when using that particular tool in a confined area such as that of an automobile or shop, but also in the choice of product applied. Many, including myself, use different products in this tool whimsically.

I regret not keeping the MSDS from my former Zep jobber because it was more detailed - giving warnings of carcinogens that build up in fatty tissues of the liver and damage associated with it. But that was in 2007.

Happy detailing...
 
Vegas Transplant--I guess the point I was trying to make is this. For instance, those borax-based white gritty hand soaps (like Boraxo) that are common, I can't use those, they make the back of my hands turn red--but I can't wear gloves when washing my hands, right? Most people use them with no problems, but I can't.

So if you make xyz cleaner, and it really is safe to get on your hands, but 1% or 2% or 5% of the people who use it will get red hands, you put that in the MSDS so you don't get complaints from the people who get red hands. And then you have wheel acid...what I'm saying is that reading MSDS's frequently makes it hard to separate out what is the really dangerous stuff from the moderately or mildly dangerous, because almost anything will tell you to wear gloves.

Here's a good example, I bet all the leather treatment products tell you in the MSDS to wear gloves...but then you might sit on that seat you just treated in shorts and a t-shirt, and grab the steering wheel you just treated with your bare hands. I'm not sure whether the answer to that is you should be wearing long shirts and pants and wearing gloves to drive, but there you go.
 
LOL, sorry Renny....I was thinking Renny Doyle in my head and typed Denny. Missed the 5 minute edit window! :D
 
Safety first! Tuff when your in 20s and feel like superman.
Hungover with 2 hours of sleep and you're still able to polish out two cars.

In your 30s, you get some signs that what you did in you 20s may off been Kryptonite in disguise.

In your 40s, you may notice that breathing wheel cleaner fumes and years of DA vibration has made your sinuses and fingers "tingle"..

Here in Cali, it was not too long ago that selt belts and motorcycle helmets were not required, but you had that option. Excercise common sense and use available safety options like eye, ear, nose, and hand protection.
 
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