What/Where are the facts that Butyl's can cause Cancer?

I don't know, but I think that the warning that says "this product has ingredients that are known in the state of California to cause cancer" is a good enough warning. NOt that I heed such silly warnings, because I don't live in cALiFORNia.

I tend not to believe too much of what comes out of California

Remember way back when, they said sacharin causes cancer. Thats what they used to make diet soft drinks.

well what they failed to explain was you had to drink 900 sodas a day to get cancer.

but yet everyone was talking about it. I think that is what made TAB drink go away.

I am not so worried about butyl products causing cancer.

Its just when a product containing butyl is used in cleaning and I am around it, I hack, cough, and have sinus problems for DAYS with just one use. Think about it, with a TM, if you are running any serious temps, you are vaporizing the cleaning agents, both in your rinse water and the prespray you previousely applied. Common sense tells us, if you can smell it, it is getting into you lungs, etc.

A few facts and a few precautions.

"Butyl" is not just one product but an entire family of products that have similar molecular structures.

Buytl can be divided into two groups - the "E" series (ethylene) or the "P" series (Propanol). Some suggest than one type is better for the environment and the other safer for people, but that is at best a simplification considering all the different variations of buytl and largely unproven.

US production and use of just one form of buytl - (ethylene glycol monobuytl ether) exceeds 1 million pounds. It is used in many industries besides cleaning. Furniture, building materials, pesticides are some other big users. Most people are exposed to much more buytl from the off-gassing of theri furniture than from carpet cleaning.

There are no proven health hazards connected to the forms of buytl most commonly used in carpet cleaning. However, there are many suspected problems - including liver damage and reproductive issues. Some are being researched, but to date no proof for or against.

Our lungs were meant to inhale air, not any liquid. Even water in our lungs can be a hazard. The way we spray any product can make it dangerous. Personally, I think the misuse of fabric protectors poses one of the greatest risks to cleaners.

To keep what your are sprayinjg - be it a prespray with some form of buytl or carpet protector or anything else, follow a few rules -

Spray at reasonable pressure. For pump up sprayers, that is 35 to 50 PSI. Too high of a pressure can aersolize the spray and get it into the air where it can be inhaled.

Use a large spray tip opening. I suggest xx06 or xx08 sizes. These larger openings produce larger droplets. LArger droplets are heavy enough to fall to the carpet ratehr than be suspended in the air and carried around by air currents.

Keep the spray wand about 12" to 18" from the carpet. If you get too close, there is bounce back of the spray into the air. If the spray is too far from the surface, more of the product being sprayed can get into the air.

Make sure you have good ventilation when using any chemicals.

If you find something bothers you - Don't use it. Of course there are many products that bother some individuals. But just because a product makes us coguh does not mean it poses a cancer risk. Also some of the dealiest things we encounter as carpet cleaners- carbon monoxide for example -have no odor and won't make us cough. It just kills.

Scott Warrington

Scott has made some good points about proper spraying of any chemicals.

The main caution with using "butyl" solvents is to avoid skin contact.

That was the original concern when using it as a degreaser.

It can be absorbed thru the skin.

Larry

Simple enough answer is to avoid them if there is any question to their safety.

There are better alternatives out there.

Out of our entire line of chemicals, only 2 have EB (Butyl), and I'm modifying one of them now, with the second to follow.

I use to use Unsmoke Degrease-All. That Stuff would melt grease on contact. The only problems were some employees would complain about the vapors. I still think that stuff ranks high as one of the top degreasers. Haven't used it in a long time.