Mr. R. W. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, having regard to the serious side-effects experienced by people using clear and pigmented polyurethane, if she will establish an investigating team to examine the uses of polyurethane and to recommend safe-handling practices.
§ Mr. FernyhoughThe toxic hazard of the polyurethane paints and lacquers depends upon the amount of uncombined isocyanate that they contain. Three types of polyurethane paints may contain free volatile isocyanate and are often used in factories. The toxic hazard is normally low when they are applied by brush but may be quite high when they are sprayed. H.M. Factory Inspectorate recommend adequate exhaust ventilation and enclosure of the work being done when the concentration of isocyanate vapour has exceeded the threshold limit value of 0.02 parts per million. This is a matter with which the Chemical Branch of the Inspectorate has been concerned over the last few years and there does not seem to be a case for a further special investigation.
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