I got a health question regarding using some chemicals on our cars

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72moparswinger

72moparswinger

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I'm a chemaphobe first off, I hate using them. I know that sounds weird even though I wrench.
I was using brake cleaner to get some sticky residue off some chrome then used some polish and i was using nitril gloves but as nitril is, they tear easy over time with brake cleaner on them. I go about it finishing what i was doing with my fingers exposed then touch my phone with the brake cleaner /polish on my fingers. I washed my hands before I ate and touched the phone while i had my burger and forgot to wipe the phone off(nothing noticable on the phone screen). could the (dried transferred chemical) from my fingers get onto burger after touching the phone? Im paranoid bout this stuff. my health is priority over my car lol
 
not trying to make light of your phobia but if there were big worries about that stuff I would have been dead long,long ago.
 
its all bad and it all causes cancer according to the federally mandated labels .....I wouldn't take a bath in the chemicals but I also wouldn't worry about it too much.

If you don't work on cars for a living then your exposure to automotive chemicals is going to be minimal and not be anything to worry about.

If you are like some of us who are in a garage setting day in and day out then there is more concern but even still....there are much greater things to worry about in life.

as long as you use pre-cautions and common sense ...you will be just fine

If its a more serious concern then I am big trouble thinking of the paint chemicals I have been around.

The worst one is methyl ethyl ketone ........that can cause birth defects which is the one I am most concerned with because I am a female....but even still a doctor told me that as long you use safety gear and don't get near it if pregnant or nursing then everything should be ok.

You are on the track for worrying about it but don't over worry is what I am saying.
 
buy a moon suite....

even if you eat healthy....exercise daily...never touch a chemical.....what happens...

you still die.......enjoy life...cause you are not going to get out of here alive...LOL
 
Being around smokers or smoking is far far more dangerous than what you did. The chemicals they are putting in food is also a lot more dangerous. Have you seen the meat glue they are using now? It is hard to tell that the meat you are eating is actually glued together.
 
Thanks all, If anything is going to get to me is that I worry to much! I agree with what I posted is insane but when i hear from others it has a comforting affect to me some how. The worst thing I do is go on DR.google ha
 
Yeah, just wear gloves when using chemicals then wash up afterward. Wear an appropriate mask when around vapors or fibers/dust in the air, clean up afterward, then don't worry too much about it. If you're painting, wear a clean suit and fresh air of course.

Love your '72 by the way, that thing looks awesome.
 
I've had many, many meals in the shop, quickly gulping down burgers, etc. and watched greasy fingerprints on bread go down. I'm still alive. I can wiggle all 12 fingers to prove it!
 
Nothin wrong with bein concerned at all. But that transfer was such a small amount if at ALL, I wouldn't sweat it.
 
Have bad trans fluid in hair and on hands as well as used engine oil like the rest of us. Even gotten the ol brake cleaner in eyes on occasion. I've never used gloves.

No cancers yet or side effects but I'm not in California either.. :)
 
my friend jim, whos a retired CAT tech, washed his coffee cup out every afternoon with chlorinated brake cleaner. hes still sharp as a tack and nimble. I wouldn't worry about it!
 
if you want to really get worried check out the early history of tetraethllead. it is SCARRY. but after we used for a long time it wasnt to bad.
 
I pumped ethyl for two years....

then she left me for another guy.....was 29.9 a gallon.. 102 octane...back in 1971,,,,lol

We used tricolorethane (sp) while I was in the USAF.....used to clean everything with that stuff....

used that stuff for a few years also... while I worked for the state of nevada
 
I'm 68 yo, my Dad used Gasoline to clean his hands and like father like son, I did also.
Never had any problems from it but haven't done that in abt 50 yrs!
It would make my hands tingle!
 
LOL... yeah, when I was very young from like 4 to maybe 10 or 12, my grandmother and I would wash our hands from the gas cans in my grandfather's Model-A restoration shop. As crazy as it was healthwise (plus, this would have been leaded gas), my bigger thought now is how expensive that is! lol
 
For the nitrile gloves wear an outer pair over inner. Change out the outer when torn. Don't know why chemicals are listed as carcinogens in CA?
 
I am allergic to most petroleum products but have been involved with cars / bikes forever..

All you have to do is minimize exposure...wear protection, good ventilation and keep an eye out for innovative products.

For example, when we raced MX, I would have to clean the air filters in varsol then wash them in soap/ water and re oil them. Didn't quite agree with me :) Found a product called no toil ( we were later sponsored by them) .. all was water soluble. Used to toss the filters in the cloths washer..did a great job and cleaned out the washer as well..
 
Wow :happy1:

Did you shampoo your cars seat? maybe the previous owner left some butt sweat on it lol.....sorry about your phobia, that little bit won't hurt you :glasses7:
 
I stir my coffee with a pen or screwdriver at work. No ill effects on me. LOL but in all seriousness i wear rubber gloves at work and do use MEK . But i do wear a respirator when spraying , or grinding/sanding on parts. Like others have said chemicals can be toxic hence the warning labels , but most of the warnings have to do with over exposure to these things. Being smart and wearing appropriate PPE while working with chemicals, and washing your hands before handling food helps. But one exposure like what you were mentioning is prob not gonna hurt you.
 
So if you want an honest scientific answer, the MSDS should be readily downloadable from the manufacturer of any commercially available product. Follow the warning and instructions on the label. Use in a well ventilated area, Flammable, etc... Anything you can buy at your neighborhood parts house will be pretty mundane, especially in large populated areas (California and such). That said, if you DO react to a particular chemical by all means get proper PPE such as neoprene gloves and a NIOSH approved respirator.
 
You act like you've never been exposed to a class A carcenogen before....


But seriously, it won't hurt you. I've done much worse, and I'm still waking up above ground....
 
OK, it's been nearly 20 hours since your original post. If you're reading this, you're probably gonna make it.
 
At work I have to wipe tubing down prior to bending with prep-sol, and I wear rubber gloves the kind like you would use in the kitchen, and I have also used them with brake parts cleaner. But I clean the wheels on my nephews soap box derby car with brake parts cleaner and don't use gloves. I think the labels are funny that say"has been found to cause cancer in rats in California" What do I care if rats in California get cancer?
 
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