cutting polycarbonate lenses

[THE MEB]

this is my first post, but I would love to have input on the latest information regarding the health risk of cutting polycarbonate lenses. This question has been generated from the latest findings of polycarbonate in general,causing numerous health risk when used in baby bottles and drinking glasses. I have worked as dispensing optician and done most of the cutting in the finishing lab for an optometrist for the last 20 years.My health has deteriorated to the point where I have had to cut back on my hours and missed lots of work. In any event, I have many of the symptoms associated with the latest findings of polycarbonate,in general. I would think that being exposed to the raw material in the cutting proccess could exacerbate exposure to the toxins. Is there a law concerning exposure within the optical industry? Have the laws been tightened up since new findings are coming out? I would like the latest input in this regard. Thanks in advance for any input you proffessionals can give concerning this topic. Mike

PS: I love this forum

[chip anderson]

Always said that stuff was junk!

[Chris Ryser]

Ventilation is the key....................

..........................I would love to have input on the latest information regarding the health risk of cutting polycarbonate lenses.

.................................... I have worked as dispensing optician and done most of the cutting in the finishing lab for an optometrist for the last 20 years.My health has deteriorated to the point where I have had to cut back on my hours and missed lots of work. In any event, I have many of the symptoms associated with the latest findings of polycarbonate,in general.
Mike

Mike......... any hot plastic or solvent will emit toxic fumes. The only proper way to work with them and stay healthy is proper ventilation. A ventilation hood directly over the workplace venting the fumes outside, not into a centrally ventilated building endangering others.

http://www.twi.co.uk/j32k/protected/band_13/faqkg006.html

As you have done optical lab work for 20 years and suffer health effects you must also have a tinting unit under heat all day long, and also without proper ventilation. This is as bad or worse as hot neutralizers emit toxic fumes that have long term health effects on kidneys, liver and brain. So do also some additives in the dyes.



There are also many other chemicals that should be handled under a ventilation hood. Or if you can not start using the tinting systems that does not emit any dangerous fumes.

If you arrange your workplace with good ventilation at the right spots you should be safe. But you should also use water + surfactant based chemicals if possible.

[THE MEB]

cutting poly

chris, thanks for the input. We have small lab, have ventilation hood over both tint unit and edger, even though the suction is not as good as it should be (we have tried to get as musch suction as possible.) The smell of the dyes, but especially the high index material still waft through our adjoining dispensing area. Since the vent hood is above the edger, it still doesn't collect enough of the fumes that are garnered from waste going down into slurry bucket.

[apaul]

When I first started cutting high index I worried about the smell but was reassured it wasnt a health hazard at all!
There are no warnings anywhere ie on the packets etc
so how bad is this stuff?
Alan

[Happylady]

This has been a concern of mine. I used to do most of the lab work and our small finishing lab has NO ventilation other then the regular air and heat. I only turned the tint unit on when I was tinting which was only once or twice a month but having no ventilation worried me.

I do very little lab work now since we hired a full time lab guy but I can't think it is good for him.

[Chris Ryser]

Warning..............

WARNING !
ABOUT FAKE INFORMATION ON MSDS SHEET'S CIRCULATED BY NEARLY ALL LENS DYE SUPPLIERS
Hot neutralizer fumes (ethylene glycol, glycol ethers), will damage kidneys and liver. Don't expose yourself, your employees or even your customers.
Read up on health hazards of conventional lens dye neutralizers and removers.

Ether and ethylene Glycol based lens dye neutralizers (tint removing solvents), which are the standard variety, are very toxic, and their fumes, when heated are highly damaging to kidneys and liver. We can find tinting units with hot lens dyes and toxic neutralizers being heated in the smallest and not ventilated areas in optical laboratories and in the back of optical stores all over the world.
Most or many of the larger optical lens dye supply manufacturers publish MSDS forms even over the internet, that do not mention the health dangers of heated ether glycol solutions.
Some optical stores are situated in office buildings or shopping centers which are using re-circulating heating and air-conditioning systems. In these cases the toxic fumes are not only inhaled by the workers in the optical laboratory or store, they are also carried in the air system around the whole building.

[apaul]

When I first started cutting high index I worried about the smell but was reassured it wasnt a health hazard at all!
There are no warnings anywhere ie on the packets etc
so how bad is this stuff?
Alan

So any ideas?
Should we be wearing gas masks?

Al

[Chris Ryser]

check MSDS.........................

So any ideas?
Should we be wearing gas masks?

Al

You have the right to request a MSDS (Material safety data sheet) fom your supplier on the cured lens material. Then check the section on toxicity of fumes when overheated or burning.

However if you use a coolant when edging, the problem would simply be an unpleasant smell and not fumes.

[apaul]

Thanks for that Chris
Hope i am not going to ridicule myself but arent smell and fumes the same thing?
Alan

[Chris Ryser]

Hot plastic materials..................

Hope i am not going to ridicule myself but arent smell and fumes the same thing?
Alan

Nothing ridiculous about that. Smells can be or are most of the time harmless if they are emitted from a unheated object, however they can be warning signal.

If you inhale an expensive perfume which consists of a half a drop of concentrate dissolved in ethanol in its normal cold condition you will inhale a non dangerous and minimal amount of the alcohol.
However if you heat the same perfume and start smelling the bottle you will inhale a thousand fold the alcohol which transposed into a gaseous state by heating it up and would be immediately be subject to its toxicity of the chemical.
This same effect you have in your lab with lens dye neutralizer. No problem when smelling it cold but very toxic when hot.

That is why I asked above if you use a dry cutter on your edger or wheel with coolant. The dry cutter would create heat and could release toxic fumes that can develop with plastic materials taht are otherwise safe.

[gemstone]

That's another reason why I don't like dry cut edgers. Just take a look at the dust when you clean around them. Makes smoking look safe.

[maguire3670]

dangers of cutting and grinding

1. If you cut or grind you will have dust and vapor. You need proper dust collection and proper ventilation for the vapor. If you smell something, then you surely have vapor.
2. The same dust you see on your counter is also collecting in your lungs, which is why wearing a mask is smart. The dust collection in your lungs is cumulative. It does not pass. It takes a number of years to discover the heath threat. Then it is a little late. The learning process is much similar to that which folks learned about with mining coal and asbestos. The optical industry tends to pretend this is not an issue. One day this will be just as big an issue as in those other industries. This will hit the guys without proper dust collection and ventilation where is should, in the wallet. Because you do not see or feel it quickly is a lousy reason to be lazy and cheap.

[Chris Ryser]

Seriously...............

The optical industry tends to pretend this is not an issue. One day this will be just as big an issue as in those other industries. This will hit the guys without proper dust collection and ventilation where is should, in the wallet. Because you do not see or fell it quickly is a lousy reason to be lazy and cheap.

Thank you for speaking up..........................This problem is also treated on the Optiboard as if it was non existent.

I think that is because most opticians have their lab in the back of the store with no means to ventilate...........and one has never done so in the last 100 years..
Store located in closed, central ventilated buildings or malls are polluting the air for others that even complain about 2nd hand smoke, but don't know they breath much worse in such locations.

[THE MEB]

Polycarbonate Lenses

Thanks everyone for your input. I still didn't see any responses as to any new laws in the optical industry because of the latest findings about the health risks in using polycarbonate materials. Many stores have already taken baby bottles and drinking cups made of poly of their shelves. Just a few years ago the optical industry was considering making all lenses polycarbonate because of safety issues. Seems ironic now that they aren't the leaders in determining if the health of those who have been producing eyeglass lenses made of polycarbonate aren't in even more jeoprady than those who dring out of water bottles.