So for two years(15-17)I had been building dioramas. Mainly German armour with the odd Russian project. However recently I've become a bit of a hypochondriac because I've had a family member become diagnosed with cancer. I cannot stop wondering about all of the fumes I must have inhaled over the course of those two years. I mainly worked in my basement, and both 2ft×2ft windows were generally wide open. However at the time I was only 15 when I started and didn't realize how dangerous some fumes could be. I only airbrushed acrylics and used oils only for washes/dry brushing. I cleaned my airbrush with windex(which Im not sure if toxic) by blowing it into a plastic ice cream pale with a small hole at the top. I also used Elmer's spray adhesive more than once,which was very silly thing to do inside. For cement I mainly used tamiya liquid,and accidentally combined a small amount of weldbond and tammiya cement during one occasion. When I first started and as well as at school with my classmates we would glue polystyrene with hot glue as we and our teachers didn't know any better(pretty stupid). Am I at high risk for cancer after having inhaled some of those fumes? (I never felt dizzy or anything). Or is most of the stuff I inhaled only extremely dangerous in large amounts over a long period of time? I am kind of nervous and can't stop thinking about it. Also, is there anything extremely carcinogenic that I inhaled on that list? Lastly have you guys had similar experiences just as a by product of this hobby? Thanks for any replies.

Hi Zach

Your fears are completely normal and I have had them myself recently as my girlfriend has been only recently been diagnosed with liver cancer, we also have an 8 year old son.
Fear is a normal reaction but dont let it control your life, I would suggest contacting any local cancer help groups, talking about it does help.

As for the hobby yes there are some toxic materials that we use but with basic precautions like good ventilation you should be fine.

Please give my best wishs to your relative , take care

Hi Zach. I don't think you need to worry unduly. If yoou were working with solvent based glue or paint at your job then proper protection would be needed, however, Acrylics and liquid glue, whilst giving off odours and fumes do not produce enough to cause problems healthwise. You appear to be taking suitable precautions with good ventilation. You might take more precaution with airborne particles, especially when airbrushing or sanding resin, an extrator will help the former and a dust mask is a must for the latter. As a reference you may go to the specific manufacturers website where they should have Health and Safety Data Sheets in addition to those included with the product. don't forget that most specific products used in modelling these days have been made as safe as possible, it;s the 'extra' items that may carty an increased caution but even they have been made safer over the years.

Hope this helps.

Howdy Zach,
Mike pretty much summed it up in his posting. Modeling has been made about as safe as it can be made. Even to the point of changing the composition of "lead soldiers".
I've been in the printing industry for over 30 years and we use some pretty nasty chemicals. We use rubber gloves and have plenty of ventilation. And I get a physical every other year and am in good health. I have also been building models for 50 years. If you have good ventilation I wouldn't worry too much. DO wear a mask while working (cutting & sanding) with resin.
Good Luck !
Tom

the things to be concerned about are lacquer thinners containing acetone and liquid plastic solvent which is ethylene chloride.

From your narrative Id say you are rather safer than some of us...

Basically what Jonathan has said , unless you are using lacquer and cement with ethylene chloride you have nothing to worry about when it comes to your health . Lacquer is very nasty stuff to breath in when spraying and one shoud be wearing the proper face mask . If you are that worried about breathing in the fumes with the paints you use now you can invest in a respirator when spraying .


Terri

How old are you ?

Hi Zach, and welcome to the Kitmaker network. I'm the moderator of the Painting Forum on Armorama. I've been building models for 45 years and airbrushing since I was your age. I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about. Acrylics used with even modest ventilation are not harmful, no matter how many years you use them. Tamiya cement is not harmful if used in an open room. Same thing for Mineral Spirits used for thinning oils. As long as you are not purposely concentrating and inhaling the fumes from glue or thinner to get high, you have nothing to fear. I've had my lungs checked and bloodwork done this year and I'm completely clear and healthy. Don't breathe laquer thinner or Methyl-Ethyl Ketone and you can enjoy a lifetime of healthy and worry free model building.
By the way, when you clean your airbrush, after shooting Windex through it, shoot an airbrush cup full of distilled water through it. You don't want to leave Windex in there and don't use tap water. I hope this puts you at ease. Enjoy modeling!

Good advice above,

If you take good basic precautions, you will be ok, 'cos it's not like you are working with bath full quantities of MEK, Carbon Tetrachloride, lacquers, etc, are you?

Always work with ventilation when using glues like MEK, an open window should be good.

Get a good PP3 standard mask, I use a 7500M series mask from 3M, when spraying, get filters for fine particulates (dust) & VoC's (paint/fumes)

Consider building a spray-booth, a large cardboard box will do to start with, & vent it out the window...
there are plenty of 'how-to's' to google

I switched from enamels to acrylics just because I didn't like the smell, the 3M mask above means my glasses don't steam up, I can wear with a beard, & the silicone content doesn't give me a rash like rubber does.

With regards to resin, the dust isn't good, so I minimise it getting into the air, by:
A: using an Olfa cutter/Tamiya version to part from casting blocks, this creates a string of resin rather than dust.
B: wet-sand, creates slurry that can be rinsed.

There are hobbies considerably more hazardous to health, so it's all relative...
good luck & relax...

Heck even chasing wild women can be dangerous to your health .

Only IF you catch them....

....or they have wilder boyfriends!