Paint fumes.

[scotstaz]

Hi all.

Is it dangerous to breathe in paint fumes if you have moderate COPD? Im asking because my sister has invited me to visit and stay overnight, however she is painting her whole house at the mo. Gloss and emulsion.

[lavender1]

What a beauty of a cat! I hesitate to discourage you from being in company but not sure of the danger. Someone will be on I'm sure. I think we even have a still employed painter on here. Good luck with your replies!

[scotstaz]

Thanks lavender, he is my baby lol

[loda]

Hi Scotstaz, I have copd and in May my husband painted our dining room and I found the fumes really had an effect on my breathing, despite the door being continually closed and I didnt go in the room it still seemed to get everywhere and still caused my chest to be tight and I struggled to get breaths. Of course everyone is different and its only how it effected me but am pretty sure it would affect anyone that has breathing probs. Perhaps you can go at a later date once the fumes have diminished. luv Lorraine

[scotstaz in reply to loda]

Thanks lorraine, lm sure l read somewhere that youre supposed to avoid paint fumes when you have respiratory disease.

[elian]

I agree with Ioda, Scotstaz Even 'low odour' paint has a tightening effect on my chest and makes breathing more difficult, although I'm not sure it's 'dangerous', just not wise. It may be disappointing not to visit your family, but if a visit means you'll end up ill then it's not worth it.

P.S. What a gorgeous 'baby' you have there

[scotstaz in reply to elian]

And he knows it, such a poser, lol

[Gordon57]

I can't say I've seen anything specific about avoiding paint fumes, it would just seem to be down to common sense. If fumes bother you then play safe and arrange another time.

The fumes are going to be an irritant rather than a danger. Modern paints are supposed to be 'safe', in that they don't contain anything that can cause ill health as such, like when paint used to have lead in it.

[Hidden]

Hi, Just to say that paint fumes make my husband really ill. We didn't realise it would affect him so much but it did and it took him ages to get over it. It caused the flare up of an excerbation that lasted for months on and off. So I would be careful. Take care TAD xx

[scotstaz in reply to Hidden]

Well as l seem to get chest infections monthly lm gonna avoid the paint fumes, lol

[Hidden in reply to scotstaz]

Good idea!! xx

[Jo_BLFHelpline British Lung Foundation]

Hi Scotstaz

Generally the advice would be to avoid irritants like paint fumes as they can make people's symptoms worse - it will probably depend on you and what affects you.

Some people will find stong smells such as perfume, air fresheners etc will cause problems whilst others may not be affected. Have you been affected by this before? It may be worth discussing your concerns with your sister - opening the windows where possible will help to reduce the fumes.

I hope this helps.

Cheers

Jo

[scotstaz in reply to Jo_BLFHelpline]

Yes l painted my hall last year amd was quite ill after it. Didnt know l had copd then, only got diagnosed in may.

[Hidden in reply to scotstaz]

pS I read that if you cut an onion in half and leave it in the room it absorbs the fumes - let me tell you it doesn't - it just leaves a very nasty onion smell competing with the paint fumes!!!!

[scotstaz in reply to Hidden]

Thats just hilarious, lol

[Jo_BLFHelpline British Lung Foundation]

Hi

If you have had a reaction before it may be more likely to happen again.

I hope things get sorted and you manage to stay at you sisters.

Cheers

Jo

[Jo_BLFHelpline British Lung Foundation]

By the way gorgeous cat! He has beautiful eyes.

Jo

[scotstaz in reply to Jo_BLFHelpline]

Aye his eyes are very intense, lol. When l took him to the vets as a kitten to get his jags all the nurses were swooning over him saying his eyes were unusual, lol

[Hidden in reply to scotstaz]

Hi scotstaz you will be wise to avoid the paint fumes, maybe you can rearrange, I'm sure your sister will understand if you explain.

Handsom moggy

By the way, is jags a scottish term for jabs? (as in vaccination)

I've noticed this term used before by those from Scotland. I am intrigued.

[scotstaz in reply to Hidden]

Aye or yes lol, a jag is an injection, but l thought the term was widely used, lol.

[Hidden in reply to scotstaz]

You are educating me I never heard the term jag until the fine folk from scotland mentioned it here so thank you x x

[scotstaz in reply to Hidden]

Lol.. ur welcome. We have many words of our ow up here, especially in glasgow lol

xx

[poeticlady]

I have brittle asthma for many years and paint fumes,petrol,tarmac,always sets me off,got diagnoised with copd earlier this year ,so not sure if it would have an effect for this condition,although if you were poorly last time you painted,i'd try to avoid it if i was you.take care,and have a nice visit if you go

[scotstaz in reply to poeticlady]

Thanks. Im not going, its not worth the risk, lol

[Lynne1955]

Hi there. I am really badly affected by paint fumes, especially gloss paint. So now at home we always use water based paint even on woodwork. Then we put a coat of quick drying varnish from Homebase over the parts of it that should be glossed. That has no smell at all.

Plug in air fresheners are another thing, as well as those air fresheners people hang in cars.I am fine with those diffuser things though.

Beautiful cat by the way

Lynne x

[scotstaz in reply to Lynne1955]

Hi lynne.

I will mention to her about using emulsion and varnish, thats a crackin idea. His name is Harry, he is known as handsome harry, lol, and is also a very large boy. The postie is scared of him lol lol x

[jackie50]

I have been sat at work in paint fumes with the doors wide open and it was cold a scarf round me neck and an overhead heater going down my back, moaning to anyone who would listen to me and yes I feel tight in the chest.

[scotstaz in reply to jackie50]

Jackie dont put yourself in that position again, if the fumes dont get you then the cold air will!

[jackie50]

I did try and say but they ignored me but I have been told the painting is finished not sure if its the paint or the glue they use for putting a floor down . I am off for a couple of days so hopefully have a chance to calm down

[scotstaz in reply to jackie50]

I sure hope so. Since l put that post lve spoken to NHS 24 who said you can get a fitness to work note from the doctor advising the employee not be subjected to inhaling chemical fumes including paint, so thats an option x

[jackie50]

that is worth a thought for next time when they do thank you for that info

x

[scotstaz in reply to jackie50]

You're very welcome. The reason l phoned them was l remembered one of my clients has the painters in at the end of this month, never mind my sister, lol

x

[dinnyrayner]

Hi Scotstaz,

I was medically retired from work after a spell in hospital due to inhaling paint fumes at work ( they were decorating a room on a sunday ) , it made me feel awful and got worse from there , wouldn't recommend it especially as you would be sleeping there xxxx Dinny xxxx

[scotstaz in reply to dinnyrayner]

That sounds like a terrible experience dinny. Well lve spoken to my sister and explained l cant visit until she's finished decorating and the fumes have died down.

Jacqui x