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sc4400 · 07-28-2009, 10:00 AM

Welllllll.............a little perspective.

I worked in the largest single site Phosgene plant in the world for 27 years. It killed 2 good men in that time and one other was permanantly disabled. HOWEVER, they were hit with a staggering dose (refered to as a lethal dose in training). way beyond 4 ppm. We wore monitors and dosing badges. It was not uncommon to get hit occasionally with 25-50 ppm, or more. It's all about TWA (time weighted average).
THERE IS NO WAY YOU COULD CREATE THIS MUCH COCL2 (phosgene) from a can of brake cleaner! One drop of liquid phosgene would barely be noticeable for more than a few seconds as it flashed to vapor. It has a distict sweet smell. You are more likely to encounter COCL2 by burning matress foam and releasing it that way.

There is treatment for exposure, as many people have survived. It's effects are severe and straight forward when exposed to a signicant amount. You drown from creation of fluid on the lungs. If you survive, you can have scarring from the release of CL2 (chlorine) which combines with water to make acid.

Don't get me wrong. Breathing any chemical is a bad idea. But fear of everything is a waste of lifes energy. There are nasty chemicals everywhere in our daily lives.Few people relize how much ammonia or chlorine goes down your local railroad.

Use common sense, but don't live your life in fear.

RIP

07-28-2009, 10:00 AM	#6
sc4400 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: lake Charles La Posts: 28 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Warning to those who use brake cleaner Welllllll.............a little perspective. I worked in the largest single site Phosgene plant in the world for 27 years. It killed 2 good men in that time and one other was permanantly disabled. HOWEVER, they were hit with a staggering dose (refered to as a lethal dose in training). way beyond 4 ppm. We wore monitors and dosing badges. It was not uncommon to get hit occasionally with 25-50 ppm, or more. It's all about TWA (time weighted average). THERE IS NO WAY YOU COULD CREATE THIS MUCH COCL2 (phosgene) from a can of brake cleaner! One drop of liquid phosgene would barely be noticeable for more than a few seconds as it flashed to vapor. It has a distict sweet smell. You are more likely to encounter COCL2 by burning matress foam and releasing it that way. There is treatment for exposure, as many people have survived. It's effects are severe and straight forward when exposed to a signicant amount. You drown from creation of fluid on the lungs. If you survive, you can have scarring from the release of CL2 (chlorine) which combines with water to make acid. Don't get me wrong. Breathing any chemical is a bad idea. But fear of everything is a waste of lifes energy. There are nasty chemicals everywhere in our daily lives.Few people relize how much ammonia or chlorine goes down your local railroad. Use common sense, but don't live your life in fear. RIP