Automotive Polyurethanes: Hazardous?!

[daggerlee]

I came across this interesting tidbit while browsing rec.models.scale's archives:

Art was talking about *catalyzed* urethanes, also known as "epoxy" paints -
paints that are mixed with a hardner just before spraying. These are
truly nasty - to use them safely you need full skin protection (head to
toe rubber suit) and a respirator ** with external air supply **.
Apparently there is no reasonable way to filter the isocyanates out of
the air. This would make me have second thoughts about dumping the
stuff into the atmosphere too.

So basically automotive clears, or two part clears, could be potentially very dangerous to your health?! Or are they a different breed of polyurethanes altogether?

Here's a website with some more info:
http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/ohb/HESIS/iso.htm

I was considering buying some but now I just don't know..

More info, an Aussie government pamphlet on spraying them:
http://www.nohsc.gov.au/OHSInformati...l/a/002148.htm

[hrmodeler]

Every color and their fumes are hazardous to healt and always need to wear mask or respirator.
About auto colors, you need suit and respirator if you paint real cars, but for models is enough to have respirator, not some cheap masks.

I have respirator and it's very great.

[flyonthewall]

Been using them for 50 years, man and boy, there's nowt wrong with me!

[fatboyslim]

Whoa this is freaky!! I was discussing this with a friend of mine who works at my local Rover dealership as a body repair man and he told me that some 'two-pack' (catalysed) paints do indeed contain high levels of what is basically cyanide (the BEST known poison known to man after Arsenic!!) so you would definatly need an externally fed clean air respirator system (BLOODY expensive!!) so that would take them out of reach of most modellers!
Shame 'cos two-pack paints spray very well!!