Safety Notice:
This Testor's glue is the kind that sits in the little triangular bottle with the applicator tip. I just read the warning label. It contains Xylene!
Wikipedia on Xylene toxicology:
Xylene exhibits neurological effects. High levels from exposure for acute (14 days or less) or chronic periods (more than 1 year) can cause headaches, lack of muscle coordination, dizziness, confusion, and changes in one's sense of balance[citation needed] . Exposure of people to high levels of xylene for short periods can also cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, difficulty in breathing and other problems with the lungs, delayed reaction time, memory difficulties, stomach discomfort, and possibly adverse effects on the liver and kidneys. It can cause unconsciousness and even death at very high levels (see inhalants). Xylene or products containing Xylene should not be used indoors or around food.Studies of unborn animals indicate that high concentrations of xylene may cause increased numbers of deaths, and delayed growth and development.[citation needed] In many instances, these same concentrations also cause damage to the mothers. It is not yet known whether xylene harms the unborn fetus if the mother is exposed to low levels of xylene during pregnancy.
Xylene exhibits neurological effects. High levels from exposure for acute (14 days or less) or chronic periods (more than 1 year) can cause headaches, lack of muscle coordination, dizziness, confusion, and changes in one's sense of balance[citation needed] . Exposure of people to high levels of xylene for short periods can also cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, difficulty in breathing and other problems with the lungs, delayed reaction time, memory difficulties, stomach discomfort, and possibly adverse effects on the liver and kidneys. It can cause unconsciousness and even death at very high levels (see inhalants). Xylene or products containing Xylene should not be used indoors or around food.
Studies of unborn animals indicate that high concentrations of xylene may cause increased numbers of deaths, and delayed growth and development.[citation needed] In many instances, these same concentrations also cause damage to the mothers. It is not yet known whether xylene harms the unborn fetus if the mother is exposed to low levels of xylene during pregnancy.
I thought this was the same stuff that was found in the testors roll tube. Anybody know if the roll tube kind has Xylene? I liked this kind because it because it was easy to apply and held the parts together well.
Oh well back to gap filling CA for me!
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Every type of plastic cement contains some sort of solvent like that, and most of them have some sort of neurological effects if concentrated and inhaled. You just have to make sure to have plenty of ventilation while you're using it.
Even CA has its problems...ever gotten a strong whiff of THOSE fumes?
Robert Beaty
The Laughing Hippie
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The CF-7...a waste of a perfectly good F-unit!
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the
end of your tunnel, Was just a freight train coming
your way. -Metallica, No Leaf Clover
Are you seriously quoting Wikipedia at us about health concerns??? I could log into Wiki and change it so that Xylene whitens teeth and adds 50 points to your IQ. Does that make it true?
If you want to start a serious discussion about the health risks of modeling cement, bring a serious source to the table, not Wiki.
Paul A. Cutler III************Weather Or No Go New Haven************
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Arjay1969 wrote:Every type of plastic cement contains some sort of solvent like that, and most of them have some sort of neurological effects if concentrated and inhaled. You just have to make sure to have plenty of ventilation while you're using it.Even CA has its problems...ever gotten a strong whiff of THOSE fumes?
Absolutely! I don't know of any glue other than white glue that is even remotely non-toxic. CA glue certainly does not fit into a non-toxic category. They all have their fumes and all of those fumes are harmful if inhaled in any concentrated way or for prolonged periods of time. Then again cigarrettes will make you dizzy, have all sorts of poisons in them and are proven killers but people inhale them all the time...makes a guy wonder...
jeffrey-wimberly wrote:The tube type (red and white) contains tuluene and oil of mustard.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Good point about Wiki....
It stands for What *I* Know Is...
Paul3 wrote: If you want to start a serious discussion about the health risks of modeling cement, bring a serious source to the table, not Wiki.
Okie Dokie:
From http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/xylene/health_xyl.html
NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS: Long-term xylene exposure may cause harmful effects on the nervous system, but there is not enough information available to draw firm conclusions. Symptoms such as headaches, irritability, depression, insomnia, agitation, extreme tiredness, tremors, and impaired concentration and short-term memory have been reported following long-term occupational exposure to xylene and other solvents. This condition is sometimes generally referred to as "organic solvent syndrome". Unfortunately, there is very little information available which isolates xylene from other solvent exposures in the examination of these effects. Other study deficiencies include inadequate reporting on the duration of exposure and the exposure levels, and poor matching of controls. In a recent study, 175 employees were exposed to an average xylene concentration of 21 ppm for an average of 7 years. Subjective symptoms such as anxiety, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate and dizziness were reported. Xylenes accounted for greater than 70% of the total exposure.) This study is also limited by factors such those described above.
NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS: Long-term xylene exposure may cause harmful effects on the nervous system, but there is not enough information available to draw firm conclusions. Symptoms such as headaches, irritability, depression, insomnia, agitation, extreme tiredness, tremors, and impaired concentration and short-term memory have been reported following long-term occupational exposure to xylene and other solvents. This condition is sometimes generally referred to as "organic solvent syndrome". Unfortunately, there is very little information available which isolates xylene from other solvent exposures in the examination of these effects. Other study deficiencies include inadequate reporting on the duration of exposure and the exposure levels, and poor matching of controls.
In a recent study, 175 employees were exposed to an average xylene concentration of 21 ppm for an average of 7 years. Subjective symptoms such as anxiety, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate and dizziness were reported. Xylenes accounted for greater than 70% of the total exposure.) This study is also limited by factors such those described above.
From http://cira.ornl.gov/documents/XYLENE.pdf
It's not as bad as toluene. However, you should be careful with it, as it absorbs through the skin.
Is the Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) serious enough for you?
Scientists have found that the three forms of xylene have very similar effects on health. No health effects have been noted at the background levels that people are exposed to on a daily basis. Short-term exposure of people to high levels of xylene can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat; difficulty in breathing; impaired function of the lungs; delayed response to a visual stimulus; impaired memory; stomach discomfort; and possible changes in the liver and kidneys. Both short- and long-term exposure to high concentrations of xylene can also cause a number of effects on the nervous system, such as headaches, lack of muscle coordination, dizziness, confusion, and changes in one's sense of balance. Some people exposed to very high levels of xylene for a short period of time have died. Most of the information on health effects in humans exposed for long periods of time is from studies of workers employed in industries that make or use xylene. Those workers were exposed to levels of xylene in air far greater than the levels normally encountered by the general population. Many of the effects seen after their exposure to xylene could have been caused by exposure to other chemicals that were in the air with xylene.
Results of studies in animals indicate that large amounts of xylene can cause changes in the liver and harmful effects on the kidneys, lungs, heart, and nervous system. Short-term exposure to very high concentrations of xylene causes death in animals, as well as muscular spasms, incoordination, hearing loss, changes in behavior, changes in organ weights, and changes in enzyme activity. Animals that were exposed to xylene on their skin had irritation and inflammation of the skin. Long-term exposure of animals to low concentrations of xylene has not been well studied, but there is some information that long-term exposure of animals can cause harmful effects on the kidney (with oral exposure) or on the nervous system (with inhalation exposure).
Information from animal studies is not adequate to determine whether or not xylene causes cancer in humans. Both the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and EPA have found that there is insufficient information to determine whether or not xylene is carcinogenic and consider xylene not classifiable as to its human carcinogenicity.
I am not trying to be dismissive but,
Life causes cancer.
What is the toxicity level for Xylene? The levels I have seen on the net suggest greater than 200ppm and that it's real problem is when it is mixed with toluene, gasoline, btuyl acetate, ethayl acetate and whole bunch of other -tates and -enes and -tones. By itself toxicity well under 200ppm, at 400ppm. It has no carcongenic effect and in adult and teens the worst than can develop is non Hodgkins Lymphoma and this has only been observed in a very small minority of cases and can't be linked to Xylene at all. What is more likely is that you will end up with a slight headache or an irritated lung, and that's pretty much if you are mainlining the stuff.
Note to all: Look's like I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue.
A peer reviewed study I found so no problems below 435mg/m^3. So I doubt very much that your Testors cement is going to be a problem.
Oh and the body can move this stuff through it's system easily enough. It doesn't bond with anything critical in the body. So you shouldn't have too much of a problem continuing to use it. Making it, I could understand your concerns, in the quantities that we use it's a non-issue.
Trynn_Allen2 wrote:Life causes cancer.
If it really causes you heartache, here's an option: Non-toxic liquid cement from Testors (http://www.testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=1984)
You can also request the material safety data sheet from Testors; it will tell you all about how dangerous it is and how to protect yourself. They are required by law to provide MSDSs on request. I suggest clicking the Contact Us link on their home page.
Regarding CA, many people develop a sensitivity to it over time and it causes them respiratory distress if they are exposed to it. I don't use it because it causes my throat to tighten and my sinuses swell shut.
Sometimes I feel like everything is toxic and we just have to choose our poison, but it is important to remember that our own biology includes systems to clean impurities out of our systems. As long as we don't overwhelm our cleansing capabilities or subject ourselves to substances that our bodies cannot deal with at all, we tend to do OK.
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
jeffrey-wimberly wrote: Trynn_Allen2 wrote: Life causes cancer.And I see no good reason to accelerate it.
Trynn_Allen2 wrote: Life causes cancer.
Life or cancer?
Trynn_Allen2 wrote: jeffrey-wimberly wrote: Trynn_Allen2 wrote: Life causes cancer.And I see no good reason to accelerate it. Life or cancer?
Here's the compound that scares me and its everywhere!!
Sorry, but my neighbor's SUV gives me a lot more to worry about than that little bottle of Testor's on my workbench.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
DigitalGriffin,FYI: The knock wasn't on you so much as it was on Wiki. Wiki has a deserved reputation for errors, and no one should take it seriously. Now that you have provided a credible source, note the terms used in the quoted text:"Long term xylene exposure", "may cause", "not enough information", "long term occupational exposure", "very little information available", "inadequate reporting", "poor matching of controls", etc.
So by reading the above, it appears that there might be some danger with xylene if you used it for 8 hours a day for years on end, but there isn't really any proof of that. This is not something that sounds like it should be very worrisome. I bet you'd live a longer, better life if you ate right and excercised regularly over the mere absence of xylene. Note that I'm not saying there isn't a danger, but it doesn't sound like it's something to get that concered about.
jeffrey-wimberly,Using your quoted text, it outlines far more serious consequences. However, note how many times the words, "high levels of xylene", "very high levels of xylene", or "far greater than the levels normally encountered by the general population" are used when describing these more dire situations. Again, it doesn't sound like anything to worry about in model cement...unless one is swimming in it.
Trynn_Allen2, Pick one: "Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop..a) ...smoking cigarettes."b) ...drinking."c) ...taking amphetimines."d) ...sniffing glue."e) all of the above
BTW folks, if you want a real dangerous substance that gets a lot of use in this hobby, stay the heck away from Dihydrogen Monoxide: http://www.dhmo.org That stuff can kill you.Edit: Darn, someone (mfm37) beat me to it!
Paul3 wrote: Pick one: "Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop..a) ...smoking cigarettes."b) ...drinking."c) ...taking amphetimines."d) ...sniffing glue."e) all of the above
Pick one: "Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop..a) ...smoking cigarettes."b) ...drinking."c) ...taking amphetimines."d) ...sniffing glue."e) all of the above
a and b are both things I quit doing years ago. Never did c and d and don't intend to start.
ngartshore350 wrote:Have you seen what is in Petrolium (Gas)! You get a good hit of Benzene every time you fill up your car.
Only if you stand downwind of the filler nozzle, and only if it isn't fitted with one of those fume-sucking monsters that you have to lean on to keep the fuel flowing...
About the only thing I've heard of that DOESN'T cause cancer in some critter or other is water. Of course, if you get too much of it under the wrong conditions, you'll drown.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
tomikawaTT wrote:[About the only thing I've heard of that DOESN'T cause cancer in some critter or other is water. Of course, if you get too much of it under the wrong conditions, you'll drown.Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
[About the only thing I've heard of that DOESN'T cause cancer in some critter or other is water. Of course, if you get too much of it under the wrong conditions, you'll drown.
Tell that to the people from Hinkley! But then their water allegedly contained Hexavalent Chromium...and don't think that drinking water out of bottles is ok either as X-Spurts now claim the chems from the plastic leech into the water. Lets face it were doomed.
I been using Testor glue for 11 lustrums and I still use it..
IMHO all of these "HEALTH WARNINGS is another way of crying "FOUL!" in life's simple pleasures.
Now I wonder how I survived as a kid without all these "watch dogs groups" watching my every move so they can protect me from myself at every turn?
Doesn't matter folks the world is coming to a end in 2012 so cryth the doom sayers..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The world was supposed to end last night - so I guess that I, this computer and all the folks who have posted to the Forums this morning are ghostly hallucinations...
I don't know what is supposed to be leaching out of plastic bottles, but whatever it is, my mineral test rig still shows a big fat zero when dipped into bottled distilled water. OTOH, when dipped into the dissolved rock that comes out of my tap...
For all of you who obsess about the danger of this, that or the other chemical in your personal environment, life has always been hazardous - yet more people are living to a 'ripe old age' than ever before (at least, they are in the industrialized first world nations.) Collectively, we must be doing something right.
"The only guarantee we have in life is death at the end of it." Terence Patrick Carlsen, Senior Command Admiral, Confederation Space Navy. (Overheard at his 1700th birthday party.)
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - for the forseeable future)
DigitalGriffin wrote: This Testor's glue is the kind that sits in the little triangular bottle with the applicator tip. I just read the warning label. It contains Xylene!
tomikawaTT wrote:I don't know what is supposed to be leaching out of plastic bottles, but whatever it is, my mineral test rig still shows a big fat zero when dipped into bottled distilled water. OTOH, when dipped into the dissolved rock that comes out of my tap... Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - for the forseeable future)
It suppose to be bisphenol-A that leeches out of the plastic bottles into the water particularly under the right conditions. So far we are still drinking water from bottles...tap water might be drinkable but it tastes like pool water.