Plastic casting resin poisoning: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (2024)

Plastic casting resins are liquid plastics, such as epoxy. Poisoning can occur from swallowing plastic casting resin. Resin fumes may also be poisonous.

This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Epoxy and resin can be poisonous if they are swallowed or their fumes are breathed in.

Where Found

Plastic casting resins are found in various plastic casting resin products.

Symptoms

Below are symptoms of poisoning from plastic casting resin in different parts of the body.

AIRWAYS AND LUNGS

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Rapid breathing

EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT

  • Drooling
  • Eye pain
  • Loss of vision
  • Severe pain in the mouth and throat
  • Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
  • Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)
  • Voice changes, such as hoarseness or muffled voice

STOMACH AND INTESTINES

  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Vomiting, or vomiting blood
  • Burns of the food pipe (esophagus)
  • Blood in the stool

HEART AND BLOOD VESSELS

  • Low blood pressure (develops rapidly)
  • Collapse

SKIN

  • Irritation
  • Burns
  • Holes in the skin or tissues under the skin

Home Care

Seek medical help right away. DO NOT make a person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to do so.

If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

  • The person's age, weight, and condition
  • Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
  • The time it was swallowed
  • The amount swallowed

Poison Control

Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:

  • Blood and urine tests
  • Breathing support, including oxygen, a tube through the mouth into the throat, and a breathing machine
  • Chest x-ray
  • ECG (electrocardiogram or heart tracing)
  • Breathing support
  • Bronchoscopy, camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs
  • Endoscopy, camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and stomach
  • Intravenous fluids (through a vein)
  • Medicine to treat symptoms
  • Laxatives
  • Surgery to remove burned skin (debridement)
  • Tube through the mouth into the stomach to remove the resin if within 30 to 45 minutes after ingestion
  • Washing of the skin (irrigation), every few hours for several days

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well a person does depends on the amount of poison they swallowed and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster a person gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

Swallowing such poisons can have severe effects on many parts of the body. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, eyes, lungs, esophagus, nose, and stomach are possible.

Outcome depends on the amount of damage. Damage continues to occur to the esophagus and stomach for several weeks after swallowing the poison. Perforation (holes) may develop in these organs, leading to serious bleeding and infection. Death may occur months later. Treatment may require removal of part of the esophagus and stomach.

Alternative Names

Epoxy poisoning; Resin poisoning

References

Hoyte C. Caustics. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 148.

Pfau PR, Benson M. Foreign bodies, bezoars, and caustic ingestions. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 27.

Review Date 7/20/2021

Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Plastic casting resin poisoning: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (2024)

FAQs

What does resin poisoning feel like? ›

Usually, it appears much like a reaction to poison ivy and may include swelling, itching and red eyes. Just as with poison ivy, the irritation can be mild or severe, acute or chronic. Inhaling concentrated epoxy vapors, if done frequently or for long periods, can irritate your respiratory tract.

Can you get poisoning from resin? ›

Epoxy and resin can be poisonous if they are swallowed or their fumes are breathed in.

What happens if you swallow a tiny bit of resin? ›

Damage continues to occur to the esophagus and stomach for several weeks after swallowing the poison. Perforation (holes) may develop in these organs, leading to serious bleeding and infection. Death may occur months later. Treatment may require removal of part of the esophagus and stomach.

How do you treat epoxy resin poisoning? ›

Seek emergency medical help right away. Contact poison control for further information. DO NOT make a person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to do so. If the resin is on the skin or eyes, flush the area with water thoroughly for at least 15 minutes.

How do you know if you have plastic poisoning? ›

The most common health symptoms from inhalation of plastic fumes are irritations to the nose, throat, and skin. Neurological symptoms such as dizziness and confusion can develop from exposure to styrene, butadiene, and acetone. Acrolein exposure from polypropylene can result in a decrease in pulmonary function.

How toxic is resin really? ›

Short-term exposure to resin fumes can result in dizziness, headaches, and throat irritation. The long-term risks are unknown due to lack of research, but may include increased risk of cancer.

Is casting resin toxic? ›

The chemicals in epoxy resin systems can affect your health when they come in contact with your skin, or if they evaporate or form a mist or dust in the air you breathe. The main effects of overexposure are irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, skin allergies, and asthma.

How long is resin toxic? ›

Wait at least seven days and keep the room well ventilated to ensure that any lingering harmful fumes have time to dissipate. After seven days, your new floor should be fully cured and ready to serve you well for years to come! Still have questions or concerns?

Is resin toxic after it dries? ›

So, once you've given your resin its due curing time and it is cured completely, it is safe to use. Cured resin is completely non-toxic, so be comfortable touching it, using it, or placing anything on it.

How much toxic is resin? ›

Technically, resin isn't what you would call “toxic”. It's on the same level as bleach or even windshield washer. However, it's not exactly safe, either. It works by creating a chemical reaction, as you've learned, and this means that it can be dangerous if it's not handled safely.

What part of resin is toxic? ›

The volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, in a resin, make it poisonous. If a resin does not have any VOCs, combining A and B cannot make it dangerous since VOCs make a resin toxic.

How long does it take to recover from epoxy poisoning? ›

Usually, the symptoms disappear from a few minutes to a few hours after the exposure ends, and they rarely continue longer than 24 hours.

How do you test for epoxy poisoning? ›

The person may receive:
  1. Activated charcoal.
  2. Blood and urine tests.
  3. Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the throat, and breathing machine.
  4. Bronchoscopy (camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs)
  5. Endoscopy (camera down the throat to see burns to the esophagus and stomach)
Jul 11, 2015

Should you wear a mask when working with resin? ›

When sanding, grinding, or drilling resin, wear a particle mask or a NIOSH respirator approved for dust. It is important not to inhale the resin dust, which could cause an allergic reaction. This is where you can wear the N95 mask.

How do you detox from plastic toxicity? ›

Eat an abundance of organic cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli and cauliflower are miracle workers to help guard and detoxify from those dangerous chemicals. Colon hydrotherapy, infrared saunas when used correctly, juice cleanses, and castor oil packs applied to the liver can also be useful.

How long does it take for plastic to pass through your body? ›

Swallowed objects almost always make it to the stomach. Once there, they usually travel safely through the intestines. They are passed in a normal stool in 2 or 3 days. There is nothing you can do to hurry this process.

What can plastic toxins do to your body? ›

The toxic chemical additives and pollutants found in plastics threaten human health on a global scale. Scientifically-proven health effects include causing cancer or changing hormone activity (known as endocrine disruption), which can lead to reproductive, growth, and cognitive impairment.

Is resin worse than plastic? ›

After sanding to make resins cured, they do not pose any threat to the environment. Plastics being manufactured from synthetic fibers contain few organic materials. So plastic is more dangerous to the environment than resin. Resin is recyclable because it is manufactured from organic materials and is biodegradable.

How toxic is polymer resin? ›

Photopolymer plastic

In its liquid form, 3D printing resin is non toxic if ingested (though please don't). Though non-toxic, liquid 3D printing resin is classified a sensitizer. This means that if you are exposed to it for long enough, you may develop mild allergic reactions to it.

Should you wear a mask with epoxy resin? ›

Prolonged breathing of highly concentrated epoxy vapors can cause respiratory irritation so wear a respirator mask to be safe!

Is there a difference between casting resin and resin? ›

Casting resin allows you to cast thicker layers as compared to epoxy resin. The thin consistency enables layers of paint to mix quickly. Casting resin is specially made for particular applications. They can be colored with color pastes, alcohol inks, and color pigments.

Is plastic resin toxic? ›

The syn- thetic fiber material Orlon polyacrylonitrile, like other plastics and resins, does decompose under the influence of heat; its decomposi- tion and combustion products are toxic.

What is the difference between casting resin and regular resin? ›

Viscosity: Casting resins are normally thinner compared to coating resin. Curing Times: Because liquid casting resin is poured into thick layers, they take longer to cure to avoid shrinkage and heat build up.. Hardness: Coating resins are usually stiffer and harder than casting resins.

Can old resin make you sick? ›

Smoking reclaimed cannabis resin may irritate the throat or lungs or cause a headache. If you experience a frequent or severe headaches, sore throat, or trouble breathing, schedule a visit with your doctor.

What is the safest resin to use? ›

ArtResin is the most popular brand of clear epoxy resin used by resin artists worldwide. ArtResin is ASTM certified (D-4236) non-toxic, non-hazardous, non-flammable, as there are no VOCs / fumes produced.

Is resin safe to touch after 24 hours? ›

Polyester resins are generally touchable in about 12 hours. Silicone resins vary widely but are usually touchable twenty-four hours post-pouring.

Is it safe to touch resin after curing? ›

Do not touch the resin without wearing protective gloves and do not get it on your skin. Wash hands, face or any body parts that may contact UV curable resin with mild skin cleanser and soaps after handling – do not use solvents.

How long does it take for resin fumes to go away? ›

The smell will stop being strong after about 8 to 10 hours. Resin can sometimes take 3 days to cure, but that is generally a hard cure. Once it is at the soft cure or demolding stage, the fumes won't be a problem at all.

Is it safe to touch dry resin? ›

Avoid contact with resin, hardeners, mixed epoxy, and sanding dust from partially cured epoxy. Wear protective gloves and clothing whenever you handle epoxies. If you get resin, hardener, or mixed epoxy on your skin, remove it immediately.

Can resin be absorbed through skin? ›

Skin contact is the most common route of exposure to epoxy resins and hardeners. Even minor skin contact, if repeated often enough, can cause chronic health problems. In rare cases, with prolonged or repeated contact, the skin can absorb harmful epoxy ingredients.

What eats away at resin? ›

Alcohol and acetone are both solvents that will break down resin residue so you can simply wipe it off. 💡 TIP: For quick and easy clean-up, it's important to wipe out the container with rubbing alcohol or acetone while the resin is still wet.

Does baking soda remove resin? ›

Use Baking Soda

All that needs to be done is put 1 tbsp. baking soda on your dry hands along with 1 tbsp. of liquid dishwashing soap (preferably citrus-containing). Mixing these two and scrubbing will help you get rid of the stubborn resin stuck to your hands.

Is resin a carcinogen? ›

While their use has been widespread for many years, both polyurethane and epoxy resins have been shown to contain carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic chemicals (CMR substances) that can be dangerous to the people who work with them.

Can resin damage your lungs? ›

In general, plastic-casting resin poisoning can affect various systems of the body. For instance, it can affect your lungs, nose, esophagus, stomach, throat, mouth, skin, and eyes. The effect will depend on the extent of damage and how fast you receive treatment. The best treatment is poison prevention.

Is resin a biohazard? ›

Liquid resin (whether pure liquid, dissolved in solvent, or partially cured) may be classified as hazardous waste in your region and shall be disposed of with care.

Does all resin have BPA? ›

It is known as a hormone disruptor that has been linked to many health issues in men, women, and children. Don't get scared yet, there is good news! BPA is not found in all plastic, it is only found in plastic packaging that is made from Polycarbonate (PC) resin.

What to do after inhaling plastic fumes? ›

The treatment of most cases of metal and polymer fume fever is simple. Getting away from the source of the fumes is the most important treatment for this condition. Adequate fluid intake, as well as use of medications like NSAIDs or acetaminophen, can be helpful in managing fever and body aches.

Is epoxy a neurotoxin? ›

Epoxy products that contain volatile solvents may give rise to neurotoxic effects.

What happens if you inhale epoxy fumes? ›

When epoxy fumes are inhaled, they can affect the nose, throat, and lungs. Most symptoms from the inhalation of epoxy involve inflammation and therefore irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs. Repetitive and high amounts of exposure to these fumes can result in sensitization and asthma.

What happens if you inhale resin dust? ›

Serious health problems can result from sanding epoxy before it is fully cured. When you inhale these dust particles, they become trapped in the mucus lining of your respiratory system. The reactive material can cause severe respiratory irritation and/or respiratory allergies.

Is it safe to use resin indoors? ›

Epoxy resins are the safest of the resin types regarding harmful vapors. Epoxy is safe to use indoors, in most home areas or garage type application. If using in larger quantities, use of additional ventilation tools may be needed. Most often a fan will suffice for any given epoxy.

Do N95 masks protect against resin fumes? ›

Regular dust masks/N95 masks will not filter out the harsh chemical vapors created when resin and hardeners are mixed. When you apply heat to your resin pieces to create effects and pop air bubbles, those fumes are blown around and should not be inhaled.

Why do you have to wear gloves with resin? ›

Epoxy and polyester resins can cause a dermatological reaction in some people, which is why West System International always recommends wearing gloves to prevent skin contact when working with epoxy products.

What precautions should you take when working with resin? ›

What Safety Precautions Should I Take When Using Resin?
  • Wear Gloves.
  • Work in a well ventilated area. Wear a respirator if ventilation is poor.
  • If you find yourself demonstrating a reaction to epoxy resin, discontinue use and seek prompt medical attention.
Jul 12, 2017

What are the side effects of inhaling resin? ›

The chemicals in epoxy resin systems can affect your health when they come in contact with your skin, or if they evaporate or form a mist or dust in the air you breathe. The main effects of overexposure are irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, skin allergies, and asthma.

What are the side effects of inhaling epoxy resin? ›

When epoxy fumes are inhaled, they can affect the nose, throat, and lungs. Most symptoms from the inhalation of epoxy involve inflammation and therefore irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs. Repetitive and high amounts of exposure to these fumes can result in sensitization and asthma.

What are the warning signs of epoxy resin? ›

Allergic reactions to epoxy result in skin irritation or respiratory problems. Irritated skin is by far the more common reaction. It usually looks like poison ivy and may include swelling, itching, and red eyes. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, and be acute or chronic.

What happens if you breathe in resin dust? ›

If inhaled, these dust particles get trapped in the mucous lining of your respiratory system where the reactive chemicals can cause severe respiratory irritation and/or respiratory allergies.

How long are resin fumes toxic? ›

In a well-ventilated area, the majority of epoxy fumes should dissipate in 1 to 3 days.

What to do if inhaled plastic fumes? ›

The treatment of most cases of metal and polymer fume fever is simple. Getting away from the source of the fumes is the most important treatment for this condition. Adequate fluid intake, as well as use of medications like NSAIDs or acetaminophen, can be helpful in managing fever and body aches.

Do you need a respirator for resin? ›

When sanding, grinding, or drilling resin, wear a particle mask or a NIOSH respirator approved for dust. It is important not to inhale the resin dust, which could cause an allergic reaction. This is where you can wear the N95 mask.

What kind of mask do you use for epoxy resin? ›

The approved respiratory protection against epoxy dust, wood dust, and nuisance dust is a dust/mist mask or respirator with an N95 rating or better.

What is epoxy poisoning? ›

Plastic casting resin poisoning is a result of the intentional or accidental consumption of or exposure to epoxy-based resin products. it is considered actual poison exposure. This can occur if you breathe in fumes or swallow resin or they can be skin irritations caused by touching the resin.

Are polyester resin fumes harmful? ›

Ventilation: exposure to polyester resin fumes is an irritant and harmful. Working environments should be well ventilated and ideally users should wear masks.

How do you ventilate a room for resin? ›

The easiest way to vent resin fumes is via duct from an enclosure to a window adapter. A fan will pull contaminated air in the enclosure out through the window.

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