How bad do you think it is to get engine oil, atf, brake fluids on your skin?
It's not bad at all. I've never worn gloves while working on a vehicle.
Maybe a few sessions with a shrink would be beneficial to deal with irrational phobias. Either that or just wear gloves.yesterday i got some synthetic atf oil on my hand so wiped it off with paper towel, washed it in soap maybe 5 times and then even rubbed mud all over my hands to clean it even more and then even had a shower
While they are not good, the average home oil change isn’t going to give you hand cancer. It’s continuous exposure that’s of real concern. Wear nitrile gloves and wash well with soap when you’re done and you have nothing to worry about. Washing 5 times a a bit OCD and will cause dry, chapped skin.
I’m no doctor but blowing brake dust (then asbestos) was a sure way to set up problems down the road. As mentioned this guy probably didn’t know. Because of asbestos brake and clutch materials my shop techs were required to have an annual full blown physical that included a scored respiratory test. This test was graphed to track any decline etc. I’m thankful the organization did this to include strict adherence to brake/clutch material dust handling.I had this conversation the other day about one of my old friends. He worked as a mechanic in his fathers garage for about 20 years, then took over the operation for another 20 or so years. I've been down there helping out now and then, and seen how he worked. Blowing brake and clutch dust everywhere, was an everyday thing. Spraying various cleaners and de-greaser's .without and mask or respirator. I've also seen him paint cars ans various parts without a mask, just his shirt pulled up over his mouth. It wasn't because he was too cheap to buy any type of protection, he didn't realize how the human body would absorb the chemicals into his body and effect him. I saw him with my own eyes wash his hands in gas everyday after work. I asked him why?, he said it's the best thing he's found to clean his hands after work. Once he sold his shop and went to work in the states garages, he started coming down with all sorts of illnesses. At least 6 types of cancers. He had prostate cancer when he was 41, and at that time they just removed it to deal with it. Then kidney cancer, lung cancer,had a spot on his brain they used radiation on. Several cases of skin cancer, and it was liver cancer that finally killed him. He spent his last years getting around in one of those scooters. His color was bad , and he always looked like he didn't feel good.Henry was a super nice guy and I'm glad he lived long enough to see his granddaughter. My thought on the is just because you expose yourself to harmful chemicals today and feel fine, doesn't meant it wont effect you years later. Like smoking, it doesn't kill everyone you just don't know how your actions will come back to haunt you when you get older.,,,
Amen to this.52 years as a mechanic and have never worn gloves - I'm going to die...someday.
Anti-freeze is carcinogen for sure (EG)
I remember getting them clean with using gasoline....Before having to retire I wrenched for over 40 years. My hands would get greasy and oily, but I still have them. And, no problems at all.
My Dad smoked five cigars a day, never got cancer.Oh, and let me add this too. When I cut used oil filters open, I still don't wear gloves!
I wonder when my hands will get cancer?
+1Buy disposable nitrile gloves, and your hands will stay clean.
I was about to quote the same thing.According to the CDC:
EFFECTS OF CHRONIC OR REPEATED EXPOSURE: Ethylene glycol is not classifiable as a human carcinogen. Limited studies have not found ethylene glycol to be a carcinogen. It is not known whether chronic or repeated exposure to ethylene glycol increases the risk of reproductive toxicity or developmental toxicity.
My Dad smoked five cigars a day, never got cancer.
Very wise. Ethylene glycol tastes sweet and animals will drink or lick it. And it's highly toxic. Can cause death a day or two later.I worry more about coolant than anything else. My garage cat always comes by to inspect my work. It has to stay inside when I'm working with coolant. Negative results in this situation would be immediate vs long-term.
I was about to quote the same thing.
EG is not a carcinogen. There may be carcinogens in antifreeze, but it isn't the EG.
EG is a skin sensitizer and it is both acutely and chronically toxic if ingested, but there is no known link to cancer that I've ever heard of.
Never heard that before.EG is a skin sensitizer ....
I've always seen that listed as a health effect with regard to EG.Never heard that before.
A skin sensitizer is a substance that anyone can be exposed to once without effect. But then for most people a second or later exposure results in a skin reaction like painful or itchy blisters. Ethylene glycol doesn't do that.