Health Effects of Acrylic Resin
There is not only one acrylic resin. there are many types because acrylic resins are a family of chemical substances formed from the mixture of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid together with other chemicals. The most common kinds of acrylic resin are polymethyl acrylate and polymethyl methacrylate. The first one is mainly used for adhesives and textile finishing, and it can also be mixed with clay for gloss paper.
1. Handling Care
We can come in contact with acrylic resin either through skin contact or inhalation if it is in its powder form. Once it is finished from its chemical process, acrylic resin is a synthetic polymer with high molecular weight. These chemicals do not require specific methods in which they have to be handled because they have rather good properties from a scientific point of view. All that is needed when handling acrylic resins in industrial environments is proper hygiene and safety. But on the other hand, acrylic resins may contain traces of ethyl acrylate, a chemical that is notorious for its potential danger if it comes in contact with humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ethyl acrylate as a carcinogen, an agent that may cause cancer to human organisms.
2. Eye and Skin Contact
Acrylic resins need to be immediately flushed away with running water if you come in contact with them through eye or skin contact. If the eye irritation persists after rinsing it, seek medical advice at once. The same must be done in case of skin irritation. Take off all clothes or shoes that have been contaminated by the resin.
3. Inhalation
As mentioned before, inhalation is another way in which we can come in contact with acrylic resin. Make sure to fill the space with fresh air to reduce the danger, but use artificial respiration and oxygen if the person still finds it difficult to breathe properly. Also follow First Aid protocol in case of poisoning.
4. Avoid Frequent use of Acrylic-based Products
Frequent users of products made from acrylic resin are subject to more complex health effects, especially those people i.e. women who often change their fingernails and are daily exposed to methyl methacrylate. The more often you use these products, the greater the risk will be. Patients of aesthetics must always be warned not to treat themselves with self-fabricated, acrylic-based products because these products can be extremely dangerous.
5. Methyl Acrylate Found in Latex Gloves
Methyl acrylate (often abbreviated as MMA) is a chemical monomer of acrylic resin used both industrially and medically. The fields of medicine in which methyl acrylate is used include surgery and dentistry. For this reason, awareness about the high toxicity of methyl acrylate has been raised among surgeons and nurses because they use latex gloves during surgical operations and most latex gloves have methyl acrylate. Apart from skin irritation, consequential symptoms after coming in contact with methyl acrylate include asthma as well as other respiratory, dermatological, and neurological conditions.
Simple techniques can be performed to abolish MMA from medical and other environments. Patients, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff should avoid contact with MMA as much as possible, and offices and wardrooms must be well-ventilated to avoid inhalation.
