[s-cars] Toluene - safety warning.

[Theodore Chen]

eric, do latex gloves provide sufficient protection when handling
used motor oil during oil changes?  i don't soak my gloved hands in the
oil, but i do get some on the gloves when removing the oil drain plug.

i rarely use brake cleaner.  i always use it outside if i have to use
it, and i leave the area immediately after using it to let the vapors
dissipate before i come back.  think that's safe enough?

another chemical to be wary of is tar and bug remover, which contains
xylene.

i switched to using simple green, so i can't remember the last time
i used brake cleaner or other organic solvent.

-teddy

--- Eric Phillips <gcmschemist at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'll pipe up as a chemist working in the field analyzing such things
> as environmental contaminants.
> 
> The proper saftey precaustions are not as severe as Taka would lead
> you to believe.  Headgear?  Protective clothing?  No.
> 
> Keep it off your skin - wear neoprene (like kitchen) gloves.  Not
> latex - it'll go through those.  Don't spill it on yourself, but if
> you do, don't panic.  Just wash it off with lots of soap and water.  A
> respirator is not necessary unless you plan on being in vapor contact
> with the stuff for a prolonged period.  Open the can outside, pour it
> in your tank outside (not in the closed garage), and if you leave the
> can open, leave it outside!.  Or close the can.
> 
> The contact you have had over time from the benzene in gasoline and
> the polyaromatic hydrocarbons in used motor oil are a MUCH greater
> risk.  You do wear gloves when handling used motor oil, right?
> 
> Have you used a bunch of chlorinated solvents anywhere (brake
> cleaners, etc?)  Those are terrible for your liver, in comparison to
> toluene.  As a carcinogen, toluene, while being one, has much larger
> exposure limits than benzene or polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
> 
> If it makes you feel better, where eye protection and an organic vapor
> mask with FRESH cartridges.  I wouldn't, but I would wear gloves, and
> do my pouring outside, where the vapors won't go into my lungs.
> 
> eric
> 
> > Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:43:27 -0500
> > From: "John Cody Forbes" <cody at 5000tq.com>
> > Subject: Re: [s-cars] Octane MTM+1
> >
> > I didn't take his reply as lightly as you. My mother died from sunlight
> > exposure 5 years ago. Melanoma to be exact.
> >
> >
> 
> > Taka Mizutani wrote:
> > > Thanks Mike,
> > > Just trivialize something that is a safety hazard- toluene, like
> > > gasoline, is
> > > dangerous stuff. Organic solvents are bad news for the body.
> > >
> > > And no, I don't think it's funny at all. And no, I'm not going to
> > > lighten up because
> > > you think it's funny to make light of a serious warning.
> > >
> > > If it's such a harmless thing, why don't you drink it and report back
> > > to us how you're
> > > doing?
> > >
> > >
> > > Taka
> > >
> > >
> > > On 12/11/06, mike at urq20v.com <mike at urq20v.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> So is gasoline, used motor oil, brake dust and sunlight.
> > >> So are cigarettes, so don't smoke when you are pouring it. :)~
> > >>
> > >> Mike Sylvester
> > >>
> > >> -------- Original Message --------
> > >> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Octane MTM+1
> > >> From: "Taka Mizutani" <t44tqtro at gmail.com>
> > >> Date: Mon, December 11, 2006 3:42 pm
> > >> To: "Marc Gorelick" <marc at frogville.net>
> > >> Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
> > >>
> > >> Please be careful with toluene- that's not something you want to
> > >> handle casually (it's a carcinogen for one thing- use a respirator
> > >> and protective clothing/headgear/etc.) ...
> > >>
> > >> Taka
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