r/hazmat • u/IcyDragonfly3185 • Apr 10 '25

Tools/Equipment/PPE toxic nightmare in our apartment

hello, i live in an apartment where 11 days ago a crew came over and ripped out our shitty old tub and shower and installed a slightly better tub and new plastic shower panels. despite our apartment not having great ventilation (small windows on one side of the unit only) they used liquid nails adhesive. it made me sick INSTANTLY. i had NOWHERE to go except my bedroom and nothing to protect myself or my cats. after they finished the install last Tuesday, the smell persisted despite windows open completely, fans running, air purifiers running. the smell continues now, 11 days later despite reassurances from various "experts" that the adhesive would cure within 7 days, but that seems to depend on a lot of factors outside of my control. so anyway, my housemate and i acquired some 3M gas masks (the ones with the bayonet filter cartridges) meant for OV/AG (p100) and we don't seem to be suffering any symptoms while masked but i am wondering if that is enough respiratory protection (we have the half-face filters, no eye protection) and also if it's safe to use the shower while that smell is still so strong. i took a short shower the other day with my gas mask on (and managed to not get the mask wet that i am aware of) but then i read MORE about liquid nails and how it can be absorbed thru the skin.

i have NO idea which liquid nails was used so the company has been unwilling and unable to help me figure out what kind of protection i need.

it is HELL. omg. help.

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u/flamingfiretrucks Apr 10 '25

As others have said, your best course of action is ventilation. Open the window, get a big fan and prop it up towards the window, then let that shit run until the smell goes away. Liquid nails doesn't appear to be acutely toxic, thankfully. Seems to be more of a carcinogen; most likely through long term occupational exposure. I don't doubt that the fumes from it drying are super irritating, though, especially to those more sensitive to that sort of thing.

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u/IcyDragonfly3185 Apr 10 '25

Thanks. Do you think it's safe to shower in there? Is there a risk of absorbing the fumes through the skin? I looked up the safety data sheets for a variety of liquid nails products, and read about organ damage as well as skin and eye irritation being risks. also, does showering in there with hot water prolong the whole curing process, or will that not affect it?

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u/Mikashuki Apr 10 '25

Your organs are not going to get damaged unless you probably drink the product, which is probably not on your to-do list if I had to guess