superglue burning eyes

[Mark Schecter]

Hi, Don.

I looked at the link you provided, and while I'm not altogether certain, 
I think it's saying that the formaldehyde is a byproduct of hydrolysis 
resulting from degradation of the polymer after it's in situ for some 
period of days, not during curing. To wit:

"Hydrolytic degradation of polymers (e.g., cyanoacrylate polymers) to 
smaller oligomers involves a hydrolysis reaction. Release of 
formaldehyde as a by-product of cyanoacrylate hydrolytic degradation and 
the resultant cytotoxic or histotoxic effects have been reported and 
documented in research and medical journals (Trott, 1997)."

   and also

"We recommend that you report results for these by-products of material 
decomposition present in saline extract at 50°C for a period of 15 days 
via Gas and/or Liquid Chromatography. The analytical procedure should be 
sensitive to ppm level."

I've looked at several Material Safety Data Sheets, and they all warn 
against irritation of mucous membranes from fumes, but so far I've not 
found any that talk about toxicity of the fumes. For example:
http://tinyurl.com/jfult

Are you sure that what we smell is formaldehyde? Thanks.

-Mark Schecter


Don wrote:
> Hi Ed,
> 
> Why do you say this. Please support your statement.
> 
> It is not a pleasant substance--but it sure isn't cyanide. It is formaldehyde.
> 
> http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ode/guidance/1233.html
> 
> At 09:08 PM 4/26/2006 -0400, you wrote:
>> What is burning your eyes is a cyanide gas.
>> Consider what it may be doing to your lungs.
>> More fan, less CA!
>> Ed Sutton