On the www.yenko.net web site there is a post about the horrors of using parts washer solvents. Cancer is a real horror. Check the posting out. I had it put very simply one time. It you wouldn't swallow it, don't put it on your skin. A little splash here and there doesn't seem like much but over the years you soal up a lot of this stuff. That's not to mention the fumes and dust that you inhale. I had my blood tested and found lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and a slight amount of Thallium. They were in the high acceptable range. Hopefully the chelation therapy that I am taking will reduce these elements. You can't be too careful. It would be nice to be still driving our cars when we are 75-80. I thought that it would be good to post this here as very many of the guys are hands on people.

Some time ago one of the regular TC'ers posted that he had an incurable pancreas cancer which was attributed to long term exposure to industrial solvents. Yes, it can affect any and all of us.

Just checked the original post and it was 6/26/06 on the Yenko website. Still just as important to our health today. Take care folks.

I bought my house / shop from a retired Chevrolet mechanic. He got tired of working for the dealer and opened his own shop out back of the house (specialized in transmissions). He was diagnosed with cancer attributed to all the transmission fluid and solvents over the years. The good news is he is still around but won't step within 10 feet of a transmission or a parts washer...

My cousin was a top notch cabinet maker all his life, and is now allergic to 7 different types of wood and has Emphysema, and can't go near fresh cut wood or saw dust.
I'm Sorry for you guys that get ill from it, but what are we all suppose to do, stand and all wear white cotton and not eat anything? But them some people are allergic to cotton!
I know of many many people that grew up with their hands in solvent, with out a problem!
I'm Glad I grew up in the 50/60/70's and survived it! We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking, and I even owned a BB gun when I was 8!!!
I'm just tired of people telling me what I shouldn't do.
Like Greatful Dead sing... "Going to Hell in a bucket, But I'm enjoying the ride!!!"

No bubble for me.

Pat

I have a box of the Glad brand disposable gloves in the garage. I use them when cleaning parts, changing oil or anytime my hands may come into contact with chemicals of any kind. When using aerosol products like brake cleaners I open the big door and set a fan to blow the fumes away from me. Safety is important and a little common sense will go a long way. My dad worked as a line mechanic in a Chevy dealership all of his life, he is almost 90 and in perfect health. Everyone is affected in differently.

I get my hands dirty all day long with work. I've taken to buying the good blue latex gloves from the tool truck, the Supreno (http://www.buyemp.com/product/1090201.html) brand. $20 for 50 pairs, but they last a good while, don't rip easily. I still end up washing my forearms about 10 times a day, but my hands are clean. I'm mostly working in diesel fuel and sooty oil, nasty stuff.