Document 8Rgm1rGVkDjDk83R2DgnZBJ0o

FILE NAME: Sherwin Williams (SW) DATE: 1939 July DOC#: SW014 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: National Paint, Varnish & Lacquer Assoc Confidential Internal Report Sent to Class A Members RE Toxic Materials ^Vaiuntal ^fnhtt, jtlnniisl} m i h 'JEarxjiicr Asso ci at io n INCOWPOWATKP otnettt MitiMn-umn t.tim.wui.*ti 2201 NEW YORK AVt N.W., WASHINGTON. D.C. TyUttujm-- .--.fMA*T*W<CuE.iFBaiiuunainnm.u citui orrici or t h e r e s i d e n t mull *. fCTOK. liunitN 5 5 y**i. -- M, Q MAC&OMALB. July 18, 1939 TO CLASS A V'L'.gEFS; CONFIDENTIAL Not for Publication fttcio ftA t v ic i- c r : c \ T i mtrn l net. : m ji II iit f E R . ( f* a i f ituf. iCB;|r/uf E lA ttA L--H iu t ii I ><t| *.:* i i u i t R - > i . f **y v * ** M t < : i : i o iv iiio w a l v i .^ A r r ; ; 'f T 0vtut s. ** i etf* Tc>;ic r.*t2rials with their ever-present problems require our cor.scienticis ccr.iiceretion of the fundamental principles involved. The National Faint, Varnish and Lacquer Association is keenly interested in providing Class A ns.-berc with as much information on this subject as is practicable at this tire. This ir.fornsitior. being confidential is not intended for general publication, - it is being sent only to the Class A group, Please respect this confidence. The vital factor concerning toxic ..ateriala is to intelligently safeguard the public. People nay feel safer in buying materials whose danger they know rather than materials unknown to them. Jfe trust the several phases presented herein will ba of sooc- benefit to centers in applying every precautionary erasure in .-i^nuficturing, in selling and in use *heru toxic materials are likely to or ao enter a product. Toxics ana their effects is e subject very broad lr. scope und can- only briefly be treited in this raes&oge. Children's toys, equipment, furniture, etc. are not the only consideration. Toxics - ny compounds used in 'points or lacquers may have harmful effects if carelessly handled. Toxic materials nay enter the body through the lungs in the foru of dust, mist, vapors, or gases, through the skin, or tnrough the mouth and stomach, actcriel inhaled into the nose und mouth can dissolve in the saliva and be swallowed. Irritant .'aaterials uay also hove a direct action upon tna skin upd the mucous membranes of the.eyes,nose, mouth,and threat. It oust be remembered that all people do not react in the seme way when exposed to chemicals. Soma may be quite seriously affected by quantities which are harmless to others. Hence, it follows that nay one using point and allied prod ucts should provide adequate ventilation and should observe ordinary sanitary measures such as the washing of the hunds and face before eating und keeping the clothes clean. Dirty work clothes, including shouS, con bu- on important source of skin absorption. Some of the ingredients of paints end allied products might receive special mention because of thoir specific effects, rothor than because they merely displace pert of the air or cause slight discomfort if taken into the stomach or system. The following pigments may be considered ns toxic if thsy find their way into s stom*eh. The :mount tolerated by the body varies with the pigment. Antiuony. Antimony oxide, tlepl*s yellow, or other ontimo;<y (Antimony is supposed to be considerably loss toxic than leadj ~ . NCA ~0 02?0l N 68 // - 2- there is touch evidence tv indicate that it is a toxic .arterial.) wLany cases ox' suspected antimony poisoning have oeea traced to the ' acjospanyujt; lw.d, \ Arsenic Ccnpounda, Paris groen or other compounds containing arsenic. C-c'xiun sulfidas :j*<? sflenides ore toxic, hut belong to the Is ;aor - : e d pigments. C h r . Chromates of nil typos aro understood tc be re-ijti.-cly toxic". Chroriuns oxides ure relatively nor.-toxic. Le-.c Con.nounqg. Wait* lerd, red lead, iitnrrge, load chx-orxtos (chrar.c yeilew, chrooe green), or other lead pigments. T'errury. Rad ur.d "ellow oxides of aercury or other products containing r.ervury. - Liquids - Alcohols. The toxicity of ntthyl alcohol is very well xroinTi. as used in'.eccuers, tho other alcohols are relatively hareless. Ic-r ^p l .-- Trie is probably tnr. uost dangerous cf all cwratroidl solvents, hut its use ir. our inuustry is probably restricted to certain paint end v.-mish recovers. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons. Carbon Utrichloride, trichlor ethylene, twti-rci.lcrethane, uthyl7.ie uicid.oride, and siailar chlorinated cliph-.tic hydrocarbons ire said to be very d ii^eroac tonics. Chloruk-tod roaL.tic hya.-oc .rbor.o ;ru c'i'i to be -.ten toxic tu u ti.c cjrx'ur.t.entu,.g 'yarocurbon iteoif, but some chlorinated c.rca tics are frequently tne source ox' rkin troubles. lacquer Solvents. There is some evidence that the acutntc*'-- ethyl, butyl and cayl-- oro euro cr less toxic. Acotona nnd tba ether ketones nrts relatively harmless. H c A other solvents used to a lessor extent are either heraless in them selves, are used in such relatively snail anounts, or arc so slowly evaporating that they present no hazard. Methyl Alcohol. The use of this product should bo avoided. It is definitely poisonous. Solvent Naphtha. This is els relatively non-toxic as compered to benzel, end probably less toxic then toluol end xylol. Tuluoi end Xylol. In equal concentrations, those are said tv be aore toxic than benzol, but because they iu*e less volatile th actual hazard is usually loss. ' MCA 0 02902 / - 3- Trleresvl Phosphates. the para- and neta-tricresyl phosphates which are used as plasticizers are non-toxic. Ortho-tricresyl phosphate, on the other hand, i#. a violent poison. Turpentine and mineral Spirits. These products are relatively non-toxic 'out ore still listed in works on toxicology AS causing eczema and irri tation of the skin and raucous raenbrunes. Some people exposed to the funes ire subject to internal disorders when breathing substantial e_-.our.t3 of turpentine. Kir.srcl spirits is less tcxlc than turpentine. C-*hcr cly.stlcizors. Very little is known regarding the toxicity of other c.-mon so-called chemical plnsticizers, but the hazard frca volatility or dust is, of course, saall. The m i n ccr.ciisration, whenever paint products are used, is constant repetition to the paint cor.suaer of the necessity of employing adequate ventilation and maintaining personal hygiene. Printed "atier - Color cards and advertising literature should not in clude nny reference by the use of words or sketches to indicate or reccanend a product for children's toys, equipment, furniture, etc., unless- it is absolutely free from toxic anterials. Ncn-Foiscnous Colors - It is generally conceded there is relatively little denger of toxic effect from paints on toys and nursery furniture, as both the paint manufacturer and the toy manufacturer are familiar with the types of non-poisenous pigments to use. Nevertheless, the individual company should constantly guard against using any toxic material, especially lead compounds, in products for finishing children's toys, etc. Bote} (See f-tge #7 of "Odds end Ends", c special circular of the Scientific Section Nctional Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association, issued August 1938.) Grcwn-ups are exposed to some hazards as in tha case of children* There fore products for finishing pencils, and other articles that stay be placod in the mouth, through habit, require the use of toxic-free oaterials. Labeling - No definite procedure is recommended for labeling* Labeling is serious since it becomes a public matter with the question as to what would result if this wort done. Each manufacturer man ably cope with the toxic material situation by constantly safeguarding the public through the prod ucts he manufactures and by the repetition of instructions to salesoen, service men and others who con intelligently instruct the consumer of the advantages of providing adequate ventilation and of maintaining personal hygiene. General - The statement of legal principles listed below was prepared for end distributed by the Manufacturing Chemists' Association for the guidance of its i.'iedbors concerned with labeling problems, and is supported by decisions of the courts. Although the principles set forth are not entirely the result of litigation involving material used by acabers of our industry they art nevertheless generally applicable to situations arising freo the use of harmful substances. NCA 0 02533 y&nuf&cturing Chemists' Association Legal Principles 1. A manufacturer who puts out c dangerous article or substance without ucconpunying- it with u warning aa to its dangerous properties is ordi narily liable for any dtcage which results from such failure tc warn. 2 . A manufacturer or aecler who erroneously labels 6 dangerous drug with the name of a harolusc substance is liable for any injury which cay te caused thereby. 3 * Failure to comply with c statute, e.g., with respect tc labeling pci sens, is usually held tc be negligence per se or at least evi; jr.ee of negligence. A. The name of the product alone nay be sufficient warning, if its r.:.~ t-ix is very widely known or its si;ie is restricted to those who arc . presumed tc know its nature, but even in such cases the cdviscoility of a specific warning is indicated. 5. Technical o.ecurecy may not be sufficient protection for the aanufac- ttiror if he uses r.orcs which nay give the purchaser the impression that his product is not :ht it actually is. 6. A nonwarranty of results is net a warning against possible anngerous rrfuits.^. ~ 7. The ccnouner is entitled to rely on positive representations or di rections uppeoring on the label unless ha knows then to be incorrect. 8. The manufacturer is ordinarily not liable if his product is put tc a use for which it is not intended and an injury results which could net reasonably have been foreseen. 14 is often difficult, however, to knew whether a particular result should have been foreseen, and the courts are apt to differ on this pcint. 9. The manufacturer or one who holds himself out tc be the manufacturer must know tha qualities of his product and he cannot escape liability on the ground that he did not know it to be dangerous. 10. The general rule that a manufacturer is not liable to these not in privity of contract with him does not apply when his product is immi nently or'inherently aangarous. Conclusion - Be grant that this is a very broad subject, and doubt if a concise set cf roles con be established. Kovortheless, it may be sola that our numbers can meet their individual problems in safeguarding the public, ineluding of course our own factory employees, by their sincere effort in taking advantage of irvery possible prcccution in the use of toxic materials in manufacturing, selling and in use. Such precautions plus constant repetition of intelligent instructions will, it is believed, securo tha best resul^er^y Tours very tjpuXjT* ETT:me S O 0 02204