Polyester resin cautionary tale

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roughbert

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Last year I did some epoxy repairs to a dinghy, and apart from the wallet scars was pleased with the stuff.

A couple of days ago I ordered some resin, polyester this time, from a reputable supplier for a similar job. I took the top off the box to check it was all there, and pushed it inside the kitchen when the rain started. About ten hours later I returned from supper elsewhere and when I walked into my kitchen, started to sneeze uncontrollably. Asthma-like symptoms followed. I put the box in the shed sharpish. None of the containers had been opened. Just handling the box and contents now has me sneezing and itching. It seems to me that I have managed to acquire sensitivity to the stuff**, which is a nuisance - but before ever using it! I had no allergies that I was aware of and am a fairly healthy 66 YO.

I don't suppose that my cautionary tale will put anyone off using polyester resin but at least it may alert people to the possibility that they may not be able to use it at all after purchase. And you couldn't pay me to work with it, the sensitivity has brought with it a powerful aversion!

Maybe wood and nails wasn't such a bad idea after all.

**Just remembered that I was involved in a lab accident 50 years ago which might have sensitised me.
 
I've heard of this with epoxy, not polyester though.
There was a 505 built out of veneer, the builder ended up so sensitive to epoxy he could not go near the boat even when it was finished IIRC.
Does your resin supplier also sell epoxy?
The packaging might be contaminated with epoxy related stuff?
 
Sensitisation is definitely an issue with epoxy; through carelessness in refitting Kindred Spirit I've acquired a degree of it myself. Polyester has always seemed rather more benign, though I still try to avoid any skin contact of course.

Pete
 
Another problems with being sensitised to something is that it increases overall sensitivity from my experience. eg I am slightly sensitive to house dust mites, house dust and wood dust. If I become basly sensitised by say sawing wood I am then also into full blown allergy symptoms with the other things. Skin rash, breathing problems, running eyes/nose. sneezing continuously etc.
 
> Does your resin supplier also sell epoxy?
Yes, and I had not considered the possibility of cross-contamination. Thanks for suggesting it.

Oh, joy.

Looking on the bright side, wood, nails and glue are a hell of a lot nicer to work with.
 
I am one of the afflicted who has developed a serious sensitivity to epoxy. On exposure I rapidly develop nausea, prickling around my mouth and some respiratory issues.

I can still use it for small jobs by wearing gloves and ensuring good ventilation. If I need to sand it, only wet sanding and being careful to dispose of any residue before it dries.

But boatyards are the real danger spots and I have to be careful to get a spot upwind of anyone dry sanding epoxy. Not a huge problem in the Carib where the wind is almost always east.
 
I used to own a body shop. I became sensitised to polyester resin/filler to the point where I had to delegate jobs to staff members. The smell was Ok, it was contact with the uncatalysed/green material in my case

Symptoms were 'orrible- hard white little dry blisters on my hands, red eyes, manic itching of eyes/hands/'intimate areas'. When it passed, I shed a layer of hand skin.

GP and dermatologist failed to identify the cause- I worked it out after repeated episodes.

When I later became a youth worker I realised these symptoms are they same as for (seriously hard-core) glue sniffing.

N
 
NickRobinson said:
manic itching of eyes/hands/'intimate areas'.
Click to expand...

That's interesting. When I get an epoxy reaction, it affects:

a) wherever I got it on me this time
b) my forearms, where I originally spilled a lot
c) my *******s.

I'm pretty sure the latter have never come into contact with the stuff!

Pete
 
Those stories are horrendous,guys. How do I do awkward upside down repairs in confined spaces, without the risk of getting sensitised? It would seem almost impossible. The stuff gets everywhere.
 
Wow! Alarming experience. Polyester fumes certainly do escape the containers if plastic - however well sealed! I opted to use polyester rather than epoxy for the allergy reason amongst others (including cost). Epoxy is renowned as a favourite with glue sniffers and can kill which is why all the cans of epoxy glue in DIY chains are empty with the full ones behind the counter. My project is outside under a tarpaulin and heated inside the hull when I'm working - thus worst possible conditions for epoxy but polyester has no noticeable effect (thankfully) - although I doubt it does much good! I suffered badly with childhood asthma and was told I'd be on steroids and inhalers for life. I was tested positive for allergy to paper/wood dust, house dust mite, tree spores, mould spore, feathers, cats, dogs, rabbits - in fact pretty much everything they tested for! As a rebellious teenage however I dropped the steroid inhaler and have managed my contact with known irritants ever since. I still use the blue 'bronchial expander' inhaler occasionally when breathing is difficult, but we have an accumulation of pets including cats, dogs, birds and furries. The only things I have to be very careful of is bonfire smoke, strimming, woodwork dust, building dust and seafood.

Incidentally, if you planned to use the Polyester on the same areas as you used the Epoxy, it wouldn't have cured anyway. Polymers formed in Epoxy inhibit the curing of Polyester - or so I was told by someone with a lot of experience in this field. You can stick Epoxy to Polyester that has cured, but not the other way around, so once you start using Epoxy on a job, you have to stick with it! Despite what all the doom merchants advised me, polyester does stick to old polyester, but it must be clean - and the fumes from acetone are worse than the resin! :)

I'd mix some up and work outside where well ventilated on a warm day - if you exhibit a reaction then stop using immediately and get away from the fumes. Make sure you wear gloves and cover arms etc to avoid any direct contact.
 
A warning based on a bitter experience. If you are have allergies, go careful with medical drugs. I only took three tablets of a beta/alpha blocker and a few days later went into full arterial shut down. It was followed by serious strokes and sight loss. It was 13 months before blood supply returned to normal. Sixteen years on and I still suffer the consequences, including the financial loss. (I had suffered from asthma). The medical response? You are not ill!
 
Polyester resin is a known inducer of both dermatitis and asthma. In the case of asthma, styrene is the usual culprit. There is great variation in sensitivity between individuals. You can't know if you're sensitive until you're exposed. It's then too late. A wise man uses skin protection - coveralls and gloves - to protect against dermatitis, and an organic vapours respirator. Working outside does not provide adequate protection. The OP seems to have had a very low-level exposure, thus demonstrating how nasty this stuff is for somebody who is sensitive. There's several organic compounds like this - where some people are very sensitive. Isocyanates in paints are a fine example - there is no safe exposure level below which there is no hazard.
 
After reading that lot I feel like I have won the pools and the lotto.
I use both epoxy and Poly resins every day and buy fibreglass in 25 kg rolls. I have no reaction at any time apart the normal burning sensation you get when a standard resin gets onto some soft skin, mostly my belly.

The good news is that I am about to retire for the third time and only task is a full renovation of the family home.
No doubt I will end up with a reaction to painting.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
I was diagnosed with so called 'late onset adult asthma' in 2002. At the time I thought it was triggered after a long period of heavy coughing that developed after digging the car out of fine wind blown snow; the asthma specialist said that developing asthma on ski holiday was relatively common for late on-setters.

However, I was building a Wharram Catamaran at this point. I bought it as a part finished project. I had just built the rudders and 4 beams using epoxy glues over a week. Sitting at home I found that I could not breath, very frightening, I managed to calm myself and make very slow, shallow breaths and began to get some relief - I actually thought it was stress/panic attacks as I was going through a very difficult time in my life. Anyway, it didn't go away so my wife took me to the doctors.

I know the thread is about polyester resins but can Epoxy resins do the same? I have since used Epoxy resins with no issues (have just glassed in a new mini bulkhead).
 
I also do some aeromodelling and found myself sensitive to the cyanoacrilate (superglue) stuff.

First time it occurred I found myself that night sitting up in bed fighting for breath - nearly dialled 999

I am now EXTREMELY careful about using it.
 
Correct on all counts andygc. Having worked with urethanes in industry I met several people that became sensitised to Toluene-di-isocyanate (TDI) It appears that some can tolerate high exposure for years while others become sensitised with low exposure. Having been sensitised the symptoms can vary from shortness of breath to sudden death....... Also the poster that suggested that you can then react to other substances is quite correct (er..not if you are dead of course!) . It appears that the reaction is similar to an allergy in that once the immune system is compromised any mild toxin is seen as a threat and anti-histamines are of limited use..... Epoxy on the other hand is a more serious known toxin and contact should always be avoided by anyone at any time. Treat it with respect...... Polyesters are far safer but some react to styrene as you said. Fortunately however this is usually a temporary reaction and not so dangerous.
 
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I also do some aeromodelling and found myself sensitive to the cyanoacrilate (superglue) stuff.
Click to expand...

I had a similar experience with the stuff. Using it at work decanted into a small container. That evening I thought I was coming down with a bad cold and then the wheezing started...

It happened again and I twigged what I'd done.
 
This could be a good subject for a PBO article; health risks associated with maintenance and repair. Most DIY folk probably have little understanding of these risks.
 
I discovered years ago that my asthma improved if I reduced my breathing rate, and worsened with rapid breathing. When walking up hill, I often reduce my breathing to six steps per breath. Apparently this is due to the build up of carbon dioxide, which opens up the lungs. I later found that this is the thinking behind the Russian method.

My brother developed asthma in later life. He was given a inhaler and at the same time eye drops. he became so bad that he had a pacemaker fitted. It was then realised that he was reacting to the beta blocker that was in both his inhaler and his eye drops.

Again this illustrates the risk of one sensitivity leading to another.
 
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