The Effects of Epoxy Resin Paint

Epoxy resin paints have harmful effects on the body. But these effects can be prevented with proper use of the paint. As the chemical additives in the paint are not food-grade, suitable care is needed to prevent their entry into the body. To better understand the harm linked with the use of the paint, it is important to consider the chemical structures found in the paint.

Lethal Effect

• According to a report published by Centers for Disease Control (CDC), three workers died in a country in Southeast Asia after being exposed to epoxy resin paint for several hours. The workers were applying epoxy resin paint in a water tank located underground in a building in the country’s central business district when they died of asphyxia. Toxicology reports revealed the presence of epoxy resin paint in the victims’ blood samples, and ruled out the presence of alcohol, drugs, cyanide, sulfur, phosphorus and other toxic chemicals.

Effect of Harmful Toxins

• Encyclopedia Britannica sources cite two harmful chemicals found in the paint: bisphenol A and glycidic ethers. Bisphenol A is the key to epoxy resin formation. It acts like hormones that penetrate the endocrine glands, and it disrupts the organ’s physiologic functions. Glycidic ether is a solvent with dense molecules. It replaces the oxygen in the air, threatening people with suffocation due to insufficient oxygen in the air they breathe.

  Clinical studies and reported cases (most incidents occurred in the workplace) attest to other effects that the paint can cause. These are allergic reactions, sensitivity and organ dysfunction, depending on the chemical solvent the paint contains, that develop over time. Long-term exposure to the chemicals emitted by the paint is an occupational hazard for workers in the paint factory and for painters who use the product.

  The hazards and health dangers posed by the paint become apparent during the curing process, or when the paint starts to solidify on the surface after application. Proper ventilation or the use of protective devices such as air-pressured respirators or protective clothing are strongly advised. In the case cited by the CDC report, the men lacked proper ventilation and did not use protective gear or clothing.

Epoxy Resin Paints Chemistry Explained

• Cyclic ethers, called epoxides, and polyamines react to form epoxy resin paint. The epoxy resin paint is considered a hetero-polymer because the structures that build it are alternately formed by two or more different chemical species.

  The paint also contains additives, mainly to serve as hardening material, solvent and adhesive. An article published by Environment, Health and Safety Online states that when the paint starts to harden on the surface, the solvent reacts and continues to be emitted into the air. The emission is considered a health hazard.