Monona Rossol on wed 4 aug 99
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 10:38:04 EDT
From: Tom Buck
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: Hot Paraffin Wax Vapor Hazard?
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Rafael M:
I hope Edouard B (a medical doctor) treats us to his rundown on
this hazard. But from my purely chemical viewpoint, this stuff presents a
real hazard to our lungs.
The paraffin wax, aka microcrystalline petroleum wax, is
characterized in most chem books as being -(CH2)-n where n=1000 (lowest)
to 10,000 (expected highest chain length) units.
When this polymer is heated there is every likelihood that the
chain will break here and there, and oxo compounds will be formed, some
low voltility some high volatility (low could be acetone, high could be a
glycol with a big chain length, eg, radiator/engine coolant). Some oxo
compounds our bodies can handle but some a strong poisons.
SNIP
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The smallest oxo created is acrolein. Formaldehyde and other aldehydes
follow. A whole flock of solvents of varying molecular weight have been
documented. And the wax vapor, unchanged, also recondenses into tiny inert
paraffin fume particles. Not a good thing to inhale all around. And there
is no respirator cartridge approved for acrolein which is one of the most
common of the decomposition products.
Monona Rossol
ACTS
Monona Rossol on wed 4 aug 99
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1999 11:21:50 EDT
From: Edouard Bastarache
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: Hot Paraffin Wax Vapor Hazard?
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hello Tom,
SNIP
> One survey of exposure of workers to wax fume did not show any hazard at
> Cornell University: "Based on these results it was concluded that a health
> hazard did not exist from employee exposure to paraffin wax fumes or
> petroleum solvents. <
Isn't that funny? I love it.
> Now here is what russian authors conclude in1973:
> "The authors conclude that wax is safe and hygienic and recommend its
> use for packaging and wrapping food products. (Russian)" >
Actually, highly purified stuff is a pretty good packaging material for
food. In the cold state its pretty inert. Its approved for many food
packaging uses by the FDA.
> Monona Rossol came up with some excellent information yesterday but i wish
> i knew more about the by-products of heating waxes, supposing potters used
> different ones. <
Doesn't really matter which wax you use. It is the decomposition of the
long chain wax hydrocarbon that is going to produce a flock of stuff. You
might get a kick out of going to http://members.tripod.com/~rkfabf/index.html
and look at the solvents and chemicals coming off candles.
> The study conducted at Cornell University gives us a good idea that exposure
> to wax fumes is not much hazardous, even if unleasant at times. <
Puullleease. There is a ton of other information on wax fumes and wax
decomposition products individually other than that study. And it depends on
concentration of decomposition products. In one candle making shop where
tourists dip their own candles that I inspected, air sampling showed levels
of acrolein and paraffin fume both above the PEL. It is well-known that
acrolein well over 0.1 ppm is a health risk.
Monona Rossol
ACTS
181 Thompson St., # 23
New York NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
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