Is there any kind of health problem associated with the use of turpentine? It kinda smells… Should any respiratory protection be used?
Wouldn’t drink it if I were you [:)]. All enamel/lacquer thinners are mildly toxic, but no repiratory protection is needed unless you airbrush. If spraying, best to use a mask for any paint, including acrylics, as the fine particles can be a health issue.
Regards, Rick
They used to use it as a medicine (externally and internally). It’s certainly less toxic than mineral spirits or lacquer thinner. I kinda like the way it smells, nice and piney.
That being said, I’d avoid igniting it if I were you [;)]
Hehehe…Thanks for the useful tips. Say, what a nice zippo…[xx(]
Working on the knowledge that toxicity is dose dependent, and given current exposure guidelines and regulations, turpentine would be about 4 to 5 times more toxic than standard “mineral spirits”. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) is recommending a decrease in current exposure values to only 20ppm averaged over an 8-hour work day. That ain’t very much.
Both materials are organic in nature, and affect the body as a central nervous system, liver, and kidney toxicant; however it takes less turpentine to create a dose-response effect than an equal amount of “mineral spirits”. In addition, some of the available literature suggests exposure to turpentine has the ability to cause an allergic reaction. Just like other allergens, once allergic–always allergic. Furthermore, turpentine is flammable (flash point = 95 degrees F) as opposed to mineral spirits, which is combustible (flash point > 100 degrees F).
If you want to spray turpentine:
- Don’t. Find a suitable alternative–like mineral spirtis paint thinner.
- If you still want to spray it, do it only in a well ventilated area: Outside, or if indoors then a PROPERLY constructed and functioning spray booth. If a spray booth is unavailable, see #1 above. In lieu of that, open some windows, get some fans going, and wear at least a 1/2 mask respirator equipped with organic vapor cartridges
- Because of its allergic potential, consideration should be given to wearing nitrile rubber gloves (Latex is inappropriate–turpentine will degrade the rubber and diffuse through too quickly to offer adequate skin protection. In addition, potential latex allergies must also be considered.)
Hope this helps.
Gip Winecoff
Huh, I had no idea it was that toxic (which may not inspire much confidence in my HAZMAT credentials [:O]). There wasn’t much about it my emergency response guide. The most recent dead-tree format NIOSH guide I could find had a 100ppm exposure limit and an IDLH level of 1900 ppm, and no word on mineral spirits. I have a newer NIOSH manual on CD somewhere. The Merck manual had a big old long laundry list of potential side effects [xx(], but I’ve never noticed any.
I’m still a big turpentine fan, probably just an affected archaism due to my Southern heritage. [8D]
pfft
and I used to soak my hands in it to push formica splinters to the surface so they could be removed.
Outside of being extremely flammable and toxic, it’s relatively safe to use. Just don’t take a swig, and light up [:D]
I don’t wear a mask when using it, but I generally use it out of very small containers, and only to clean my paint brushes.
I’ll do you one better: Phthplthhthlpptttlht!
Iroc, don’ get into a contest with me over this. I’m a hardcore brass player, and can make some pretty disgusting sounds with my mouth and lips. [:D] I’ve even had a few conductors reinforce that, too! [B)]
Tangoromeo, keep in mind the NIOSH guide is for emergency response. Exposures are typically based on the day-in and day-out use of materials. If you are interested in this stuff, check out Sax’s “Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials”, or maybe the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) which is available on-line (I think) through NIOSH. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to shoot me an e-mail.
Zokissima, that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever[%-)], but it’s kinda funny–I know exactly what you’re trying to say…[^]
Gip Winecoff
I bow to your expertise, I know when I’ve met my match and overstepped my abilities.[:D]
I’ve always been able to tell a blowhard when I 1st meet them.[B)] [;)]