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When used properly and applied according to the instructions (e.g., with gloves and safety eyewear) Polywater sealants are very safe products. However, there has been concern in our industry--particularly with power utilities and some communications companies--over one urethane ingredient: methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), or more commonly, isocyanate. At issue is worker exposure to isocyanates, which can potentially cause skin and respiratory sensitization through contact. The risk is primarily associated with the repeated inhalation of isocyanates from sprayed urethane, such as home insulation and truck bed liners. Workers in these fields have long-term exposure and need to take necessary precautions. As a result, some utility safety departments seek to control or even ban the use of urethane products. Some Polywater sealants contain MDI. These include FST Foam, UPR Pole Repair, Pad N Pole Repair, InstaGrout PMT, and PedFloor Barrier. However, none of these products are applied through spraying, and potential exposure is very limited in the type of applications involved. Nevertheless, Polywater is receiving inquiries on isocyanate content, and reps may occassionlly encounter sales resistance as a result. To address these issues, Polywater employed an independent accredited laboratory to test potential exposure to isocyanates from Polywater products in a worst-case environment ("under the most extreme conditions of no ventilation and very small workspace"). The results were then analyzed and summarized in this white paper on inhalation of isocyanates by Polywater sealant expert Mark Hull: White Paper on Polywater Sealant Safety. If you face customer questions about the content of isocyanates in Polywater products, this white paper will go a long way to alleviate their concerns. Feel to free to share it as needed, or contact the factory for additional assistance. MDI content should not stop these products from being used safely. |
