Allergy

[Imported4nbot]

Our fume extractor died, but our boss still wants us to run the machine. As an underpaid operator/mechanic/techician/ custodian of the DTF machine, I am running it in a basement of our facility. Because there's no fume extraction, the DTF adhesive powder turns into this oil like byproduct. When cleaning it, I got this extreme allergic reaction all over my skin, extremely itchy hives. I can't imagine what it does inhaling it. Did anybody else experience this?

[johnson4]

3 hours ago, Imported4nbot said:

Our fume extractor died, but our boss still wants us to run the machine. As an underpaid operator/mechanic/techician/ custodian of the DTF machine, I am running it in a basement of our facility. Because there's no fume extraction, the DTF adhesive powder turns into this oil like byproduct. When cleaning it, I got this extreme allergic reaction all over my skin, extremely itchy hives. I can't imagine what it does inhaling it. Did anybody else experience this?

What you are dealing with isn't from the powder necessarily, it's from the ink. 

The main things you are dealing with is: 

Ethylene glycol

Glycerol

N-diethylethanamine

-Benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one

 

For Ethylene glycol(oily stuff): 

Ethylene glycol breaks down into toxic compounds in the body. Ethylene glycol and its toxic byproducts first affect the central nervous system (CNS), then the heart, and finally the kidneys. Ingesting enough can cause death.

For Ethylene Glycol contact:

Skin contact with liquid ethylene glycol or breathing low levels of vapors in the air is generally not harmful or causes only minor irritation. Very few individuals develop an allergic rash when the liquid is on their skin.

 

Glycerol ( oily stuff) : 

glycerol is of low toxicity when ingested, inhaled or in contact with the skin. 

 

For the N-diethylethanamine: 

Causes burns; Inhalation may cause corrosive injuries to upper respiratory tract and lungs; Highly toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. Can result in skin burns in concentrated form. 

The last one is basically an anti-microbial agent, which can cause your eyes to water/burn. 

 

The adhesive does also release toxic fumes when heated/overheated, but it's not the oily stuff everywhere. That oily stuff is the ink carrier evaporating and re-condensing into it's liquid form. I do not know how much of the diethylethanamine is in the ink, nor how much is in the oil residue after it's cured. 

 

In general the ink itself has a toxicity level of 2 and should not be inhaled, consumed or make skin contact. When concentrated after evaporated and recollected,I don't know what would be left or the toxicity level at that point. 

 

In general, you should not breathe in the fumes or play with the stuff. Wear gloves, and vent to the outside or use a fume extractor. Personally, I never understood the use of a fume extractor, just vent it outside with a 4" in-line fan. $20 on amazon. 

 

More than likely it's what is in the ink that is being evaporated into the air that is bother you the most, as well as it's accumulation on things. 

 

In the past someone had dealt with chest pains and what doctors thought was a respatory infection for months due to not proper venting. When they vented properly, it went away within days. At least that is what I read. 

 

If my fan didn't work, I wouldn't be printing. It's not worth my health.  It's why I have a backup fan. 

Edited July 20, 2023 by johnson4

[davekk]

For intermittent use.. would a cooker hood be sufficient (in kitchen above the stove) above the press? Would you recommend some kind of mask when pressing?