Importance of MSDS sheets....Not Enough Warnings!

Can you tell us some of the products that you have been looking at so that we can look at the MSDS sheets and get an idea of which chemicals you are concerned about?

I use certain "green" water-based finishes such as Vermont Coatings floor finish, furniture finish, and exterior coating. I do see that it contains triethylamine which can have acute effects on your vision in high concentrations, but effects were reversible. The high concentrations were found within a polyurethane foam manufacturing plant (so probably way above anything that you could replicate while finishing one piece of woodwork with any sort of ventilation). It does not contain any chemicals that are known to cause cancer or chronic conditions.

Compared to Minwax water-based oil modified polyurethane which contains 2-Methoxymethylethoxypropanol
, 1-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone, and Dimethylethanol Amine which are listed as cancer causing chemicals among their other effects.

I also use Tried and True brand oil finishes as they state that there are no chemicals know to cause any harmful health effects or cancer and are safe for use around children and pets. They are also zero-voc.

Paints are easy to get in zero-voc versions, but I have not checked to see which of those contain other additives that may be troubling. Thanks for the reminder. There are several paint companies that are better than the big names, such as Mythic paint and Safecoat, but they are more expensive and still need to be checked to see what they contain.

I have found that if you try to call the company directly and ask what is in their products, most people don't know. It takes a lot of pushing to get a chemist from the plant on the shone to ask about the chemicals in the product.

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) have us switching from MSDS's to SDS's.

Some Companies have already done so If go to General finishes MSDS list will see using SDS format. Hazardous chemicals now listed in section 3 of SDS versus section 2 of MSDS.

https://generalfinishes.com/sites/default/files/file_downloads/sds-general-finishes-enduro-water-based-lacquer-flat-general_finishes-_ghs-us-hcs-2012-v4.3.2-2014.pdf

https://generalfinishes.com/sites/default/files/file_downloads/sds-enduro-enduro-var_gloss-general-finishes-gh-us-hcs-2012-v4.3.2-2014.pdf

General consensus is use lowest VOC rating paints and wood finishes. Green folks and government look at more than paints and finishes when building new home to increase indoor air quality.

Big problem with non waterborne finishes is the amount of solvents & binders out gassing or off gassing even after coating has dried. Saving grace of waterborne finishes is they out gas less for shorter period.

Anybody know how they get oil out the Danish people? Always though Danish oil a myth and just bunch of chemicals!

Pezking - don't start insulting people that are just trying help increase safety. Maybe you did not mean it to sound rude, but we are all just trying to help.

The real problem is that the chemical and coating companies don't want their customers to know what is really in their products or whether they are safe long term. It is not in their interest to test their chemicals and their effects any more than required by law. They have lots of many and spend it in Congress so that the laws don't require full safety testing for most chemicals used in products today. If products with chemicals that caused cancer had a large warning label on their front, then many more people would switch to more natural coatings. Imagine a shelf that had a lineup of different products and 9 out of ten of them said in big letters on the front "Proven to cause Cancer" and the last one did not. Which one would you choose then? Even if the coatings is not as durable or nice, I prefer not having cancer over a different finish on a piece of furniture.

I have used Tried and True Danish and Varnish oils and the finish holds up quite well under heavy use. It is a different kind of coating than a film finish, but I have a walnut slab that I finished to use as an island top in a temporary apartment and it has had 4 years of hard abuse and standing water, spilled red wine, tomato juice leaking off the cutting board, cat claws, etc and it had held up remarkably well with little to no staining, scratching, or wear. I also have a yellow birch hardwood floor that I finished with their Danish oil 8 years ago without re-coating in the meantime and it looks great, probably better than a urethane job as it is on a farm with lots of dirt and grit. It self-polishes in the areas that you walk like a stair handrail that gets smoother over time from your hand rubbing it smooth. On top of all that, I know that both of them are totally natural and will not cause any harm - zero chance.

+1 RPhillips

"As to how they get the oil out of the Danish people, I'm not sure either, maybe not let them shower for a while then squeeze it out of their hair?".

@OggieOglethorpe

How about putting the real/true warnings on the can rather than the subterfuge BS of an MSDS, SDS, etc like Diammonium zinc biscarbonate (Carbonic acid, ammonium zinc salt (2:2:1); [ChemIDplus])>> causes Burns/ Skin Burns instead of causes skin irritation. Oh by the way, that's in General Finishes Enduro Water-based Lacquer Flat. I know how to read them best we become honest to the unaware.

@Matt Rogers
I suppose this is not Irritating, " Or, you need to learn how to read the information?", or this: "http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/dietandphysicalactivity/alcohol-use-and-cancer " or "I'm sorry, but this is a silly post.".

I'm not rude but am very serious. If jokes and ridicule are thrown I just do not let it fly for the amusement of those who do not wish to add constructive information vs banter.