Latex Foam Sealant
QUESTION:
I am a project management consultant, and have been using "Latex Foam Sealants" for specific applications for the past 2 years, for its many advantages over standard foam products.
However, my current client has expressed a concern over the product after it has occured and wishes to know if there is any health/environmental issue of the product;
a) after it has cured. ie. will it give off any harmful gases/odors?.
b) Is there any issue next to hot water heating pipes?
c) will it break down over time? (this installation is NOT exposed to UV)
Products are
DAPtex® Latex Insulating Foam Sealant
Website http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=11
and
Touch-n-foam
http://www.touch-n-foam.com/foamlatex.htm
Both appear and behave very similar (I would almost hazard a guess made in the same factory).
POSTED BY ERIC KAY :: BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA :: 09/15/2006 8:23 PM
DEBRA'S ANSWER:
For future reference, the way to answer your question is to look at the Material Safety Data Sheets, which were on the websites for both of these products.
The MSDS for the DAPtex says it contains
Isopropyl alcohol
Ethylene glycol
Dimethyl ether
Propane
Butane
Vinyl acetate
Alphatic amines
Under Hazards Identification it says "Vapors harmful if inhaled,"This product contains ethylene glycol," and under Chronic Hazards it says "This product cotains vinyl acetate which is classified as a class 2B carcinogen by IARC."
The MSDS goes on to say that vinyl acetate "was found to cause cancer in the respiratory tract of laboratory animals. There is no evidence that vinyl acetate causes cancer in humans."
Regarding ethylene glycol, it says "Studies have shown that repeated inhalation of ethylene glycol has produced adverse cardiovascular changes in laboratory animals. Ethylene glycol may cause kidney and liver damage upon prolonged and repeated overexpsoures. Ethylene glycol has been shown to cause birth defects in laboratory animals.
Then it says, "NOTICE: Reports have associated repeated and prolonged occupation overexposure to solvents with permanent brain and nervous system damage...Repeated or prolonged exposure may cause respiratory system damage."
I would say that if these warnings appear in the MSDS, they are legiminate concerns.
What I don't know is this, and you should contact the manufacturer and ask this question. There is a different in many products between the chemical exposure to the product in the container as you are applying it and once it is cured. You should be concerned about your exposure during application. Your client needs to know what is the exposure while you are applying it and after it is cured.
The MSDS for Touch-n-foam says it contains these hazardous ingredients:
Formaldehyde
Dimethyl ether
Propane
Isobutane
So it's not the same formula.
Of the two, I would say that the Touch-n-foam is much safer. Though formaldehyde is a hazardous chemical, it is MUCH safer than ethylene glycol and vinyl acetate. If you need to use these products, I'd suggest using the Touch-n-foam.
To completely answer your client's questions, I would contact the manufacturer, as they are more familiar with their product than I am. The formaldehyde may volatilize quickly or it may "time-release" as in particleboard. They would know.
Debra :-)
