eyemon
New Member
Hello all, I want to pass on something that happened to me a number of years ago. I hope that this information might save someone else from a whole lot of trouble.-----My project at the time involved
an engine and transfer case rebuild for my Dodge. I didn't have access to a shop type parts washer so I bought a few cans of a well known parts cleaner which I dumped into a large pan and proceeded to wash the parts to prep them for painting. I guess that I was doing that for about three hours without any hand protection nor a chemical protective mask. Afterall, it wasn't my first day at the rodeo, and I had done the parts cleaning routine many times before. Well, the next day I could barely walk, I hurt at every joint, and the whites of my eyes had turned red. I was in real trouble by the time I could get myself to a doctor about a week later. I told him that I thought I had pulled some muscles while installing a heavy transfer case (I didn't connect the parts cleaner exposure) and he gave me some pain killer pills and sent me home. I wasn't getting any better so went to another doctor a while later who took some tests and found that my kidney and liver functions showed that major, serious, damage had occurred. Further research showed that the parts cleaner contained phenol, which is absorbed through the skin and will cause very serious and often permanent kidney and liver damage. I was lucky and eventually recovered, although I limped along for over two years. Believe me when I say that it was a tough two years! I hope that every car guy takes note of my story and pays attention to the warnings on the parts cleaner label. Like the one that says to not let it come in contact with skin, or to use only in a well ventilated place! You might not be as lucky as as I was! I hope this information helps someone else.
an engine and transfer case rebuild for my Dodge. I didn't have access to a shop type parts washer so I bought a few cans of a well known parts cleaner which I dumped into a large pan and proceeded to wash the parts to prep them for painting. I guess that I was doing that for about three hours without any hand protection nor a chemical protective mask. Afterall, it wasn't my first day at the rodeo, and I had done the parts cleaning routine many times before. Well, the next day I could barely walk, I hurt at every joint, and the whites of my eyes had turned red. I was in real trouble by the time I could get myself to a doctor about a week later. I told him that I thought I had pulled some muscles while installing a heavy transfer case (I didn't connect the parts cleaner exposure) and he gave me some pain killer pills and sent me home. I wasn't getting any better so went to another doctor a while later who took some tests and found that my kidney and liver functions showed that major, serious, damage had occurred. Further research showed that the parts cleaner contained phenol, which is absorbed through the skin and will cause very serious and often permanent kidney and liver damage. I was lucky and eventually recovered, although I limped along for over two years. Believe me when I say that it was a tough two years! I hope that every car guy takes note of my story and pays attention to the warnings on the parts cleaner label. Like the one that says to not let it come in contact with skin, or to use only in a well ventilated place! You might not be as lucky as as I was! I hope this information helps someone else.
