: I'm building what will probably be my last epoxy construction due to flu like
: symptoms following exposure, no skin contact simply being in a shop space
: with epoxy and mixing it. Curious if there are more severe medical
: consequences that I'm risking if I am able to push on through this project
: if I get into a series of 6hr recovery periods where I feel like I need to
: curl up in a ball afterwards.

: This isn't an issue of skin contact or respiration,,I can feel it in my face
: like a mild sunburn. I'm exercising more so there's some crossover
: soreness but the flu like symptoms are stronger at an earlier stage than
: before.

Hi Lee,
Pete Rudie used to post here years ago - he worked with epoxy in his business and yet was sensitized - so maybe search the archives for some of his basic ideas. He used carbon respirators, sometimes air, barrier cream (even on eyelids)and tyvek suit.

From a quick check I notice that he mentions the hardeners as being the more dangerous part and that different epoxies may give lesser reactions.

Of course there will be other more up to date info out there now from the chemical data sheets etc.

Anyway here's some of those old posts:

http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/Archive40.pl/read/4830

http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/Archive40.pl/read/43254

http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/Archive40.pl/read/43280

http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/Archive50.pl/read/58370

http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/Archive50.pl/read/54891

He mentions getting carbon filters and the importance of a good fit around the mask. As epoxy takes time to cure, the shop may still have uncured in the air and maybe you need to have the mask on or going before shop entry? He put cream hands under the gloves as there sometimes is wrist transfer when gloves are being pulled off. Also mentions contact dermatitis as being the 1st main reaction, but i didn't notice anything about a flu like reaction.

I would suggest that with the sensitivity that you have and as sensitivity increases with each exposure, that whatever resilience you have left is precious to you and further projects you may wish to undertake. To me, that means that you should take onerous steps in order to not accept having any further reactions at all. Having a reaction and curling up in a ball is not acceptable if you know it will happen. To be blunt - you are, in effect, hiding in a ball before you actually have to hide in a ball.

So maybe you should always have a helper to do the initial mixing and preparing, maybe with an air mask and always outside. Basically major preparation before the epoxy gets opened.

Careful out there, Lee.

-mick