Health and safety in the shop or garage
(→Brake parts cleaner, welding, and phosgene poisoning) |
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Phosgene is an irritant that damages the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Symptoms of phosgene exposure include coughing, burning sensation in throat and eyes, watery eyes, blurred vision, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and pulmonary edema. Delayed effects of phosgene exposure (up to 48 hours later) include difficulty breathing, coughing up white or pink fluid, low blood pressure, and heart failure. Long-term health effects of phosgene exposure can include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. | Phosgene is an irritant that damages the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Symptoms of phosgene exposure include coughing, burning sensation in throat and eyes, watery eyes, blurred vision, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and pulmonary edema. Delayed effects of phosgene exposure (up to 48 hours later) include difficulty breathing, coughing up white or pink fluid, low blood pressure, and heart failure. Long-term health effects of phosgene exposure can include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. | ||
| − | The effects of gas poisoning may not show up immediately, and may be cumulative over time, with multiple exposures. | + | The effects of phosgene gas poisoning may not show up immediately, and may be cumulative over time, with multiple exposures. |
By the time you can smell phosgene, you've already been exposed to a hazardous dose of it. Because of this, prolonged exposure to phosgene without intervention is possible. The OSHA permissible exposure limit to phosgene is 0.1 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. Phosgene is considered immediately dangerous to life or health at 2 ppm. Because the odor detection threshold is 0.4 to 1.5 ppm, odor does not provide sufficient warning of harmful phosgene concentration in the air. | By the time you can smell phosgene, you've already been exposed to a hazardous dose of it. Because of this, prolonged exposure to phosgene without intervention is possible. The OSHA permissible exposure limit to phosgene is 0.1 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. Phosgene is considered immediately dangerous to life or health at 2 ppm. Because the odor detection threshold is 0.4 to 1.5 ppm, odor does not provide sufficient warning of harmful phosgene concentration in the air. | ||
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*[http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/phosgene/basics/facts.asp CDC facts about phosgene] | *[http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/phosgene/basics/facts.asp CDC facts about phosgene] | ||
*[http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm Anecdotal account of phosgene poisoning resulting from using brake cleaner to clean welded parts] | *[http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm Anecdotal account of phosgene poisoning resulting from using brake cleaner to clean welded parts] | ||
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== Skin Protection == | == Skin Protection == | ||
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