PRECAUTION! Brake Cleaner Hazards - READ BEFORE DIY'ING

[tiksie]

A friend just posted this article on the deadly dangers of Brake Cleaner which I was hoping that many people knew of already, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Here's the article:
http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

Basically, when brake fluids that contain tetrachloroethylene (which most do) become deadly when incinerated. It forms a gas called Phosgene which if left untreated, can and WILL cause death.

Here's the wiki entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosgene#Chemical_warfare

Phosgene is an insidious poison as the odor may not be noticed and symptoms may be slow to appear.[15] The odor detection threshold for phosgene is 0.4 ppm, which is four times the Threshold Limit Value. Its high toxicity arises from the action of the phosgene on the proteins in the pulmonary alveoli, which are the site of gas exchange: their damage disrupts the blood-air barrier, causing suffocation. It reacts with the amines of the proteins, causing crosslinking via formation of urea-like linkages, in accord with the reactions discussed above. Phosgene detection badges are worn by those at risk of exposure.[3]
Sodium bicarbonate may be used to neutralise liquid spills of phosgene. Gaseous spills may be mitigated with ammonia.[16]

A sticky would be good to keep people aware before they DIY.

[mocchi]

thanks alot for spreading that info. i sometimes tig weld, use acetone to clean.
sometimes use brake cleaner to clean parts too.

thanks again for the heads up.

this should be stickied.