On Feb 18, 20:53, Tothwolf wrote:
> On Mon, 18 Feb 2002, John Allain wrote:
>
> > > Methylene Chloride
> >
> > Sounds like a contact toxin. Want SI to get THAT on his hands?
>
> *shrug* It's sold in hobby shops for bonding different types of plastic.
I
> certainly would avoid getting the stuff on my hands, just to be safe.
It's not especially dangerous, as solvents go. "Hazards in the Chemical
Laboratory" describes it as a "Colourless volatile liquid with
chloroform-like odour; B.P. 40C; immiscible with water. Harmful vapour.
Irritating to eyes. [these two are standard hazchem warnings] Avoid
breathing vapour. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. TLV 100ppm. Toxic
effects: The vapour irritates the eyes and respiratory system and may cause
headache and nausea. High concentrations may result in cyanosis and
unconsciousness. The liquid irritates the eyes. Assumed to be poisonous if
taken by mouth."
For comparison, the TLV for iso-propyl alcohol is 400ppm, for MEK, 200ppm,
and for the methyl methacrylate in superglue, also 100ppm (TLV is
"threshold limit value" -- think of this as a concentration to which a
normal person can be repeatedly exposed, daily, without adverse effect, but
be aware that accepted TLV's vary from country to country).
Methylene chloride is commonly used in paint stripper (the kind that
doesn't have caustic soda etc is typically 80% methylene chloride), as a
propellant in aerosol sprays, and in shampoo.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
Received on Mon Feb 25 2002 - 16:30:22 GMT