Myth 7: "Isocyanates cause cancer but so does everything else these days."

Truth 7:

There is no known case of isocyanate used in paints causing cancer! But they are the biggest cause of occupational asthma in the UK. To confuse the two may cause someone to overlook the classic early symptoms of asthma – wheezing, breathlessness and tightness of the chest. This means they don't seek medical attention and the problems at work that are leading to exposure aren't put right because they are unlikely to link their symptoms to work. See the HSE/BCF worker's leaflet "Breathing isocyanate paint mist causes asthma (PDF) [48]" and get more information on the asthma webpages[49].

Link URLs in this page

  1. Motor vehicle repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/index.htm
  2. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/introduction.htm
  3. Overview - Common MVR topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/index.htm
  4. Benzenehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/benzene.htm
  5. Choosing the correct gloveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/gloves.htm
  6. Cleaning/degreasing substances including valetinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/degreaser.htm
  7. Electric and hybrid vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/electric-hybrid.htm
  8. Falls from heighthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/falls.htm
  9. Fire and explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/fire.htm
  10. Fluoroelastomershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/fluoroelastomers.htm
  11. General COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/general-coshh.htm
  12. Hand-arm vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/vibration.htm
  13. Harmful dusts - Inhalation and Dermatitis riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/dusts.htm
  14. Manual handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/manual.htm
  15. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/noise.htm
  16. Safety in the use of two-post vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/fallofflifts.htm
  17. Slips and tripshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/slips.htm
  18. Storing and handling airbagshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/storing-handling-airbags-seat-belt.htm
  19. Struck by...https://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/struckby.htm
  20. Updated guidance on vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/updated-guidance-on-vehicle-lifts.htm
  21. Used engine oilhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/oil.htm
  22. Workplace transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/transport.htm
  23. Overview - Bodyshopshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/index.htm
  24. 2-pack isocyanate paintshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/isocyanates.htm
  25. Bodyshop mythshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/myths/index.htm
  26. COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/coshh-paintspraying.htm
  27. Measuring paint spray booth clearance timehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/cleartime.htm
  28. Overview - Mechanical repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/index.htm
  29. Asbestoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/asbestos.htm
  30. Hot work on wheelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/hot-work-on-wheels.htm
  31. Tyre removal, replacement and inflationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/tyreremoval.htm
  32. Vehicle exhaust emissions (Diesel)https://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/exhaust.htm
  33. Welding and flamecuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/welding.htm
  34. Wheel and tyre explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/wheel-and-tyres.htm
  35. Working under vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/under-vehicles.htm
  36. Overview - Roadside repair and recoveryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/index.htm
  37. Automotive glazinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/glazing.htm
  38. Essential precautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/essential-precautions.htm
  39. Repair or recovery of buses and coaches fitted with air suspensionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/buses.htm
  40. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/index.htm
  41. COSHH essentialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/mvr.htm
  42. Overview - Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/statistics/index.htm
  43. Ill health statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/statistics/illhealthstats.htm
  44. Injury statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/statistics/injurystats.htm
  45. Useful external websiteshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/links.htm
  46. Videoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/videos/index.htm
  47. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/contact.htm
  48. Breathing isocyanate paint mist causes asthmahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/assets/docs/paintmist.pdf
  49. asthma webpageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/index.htm
  50. Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg261.htm
  51. Tyre removal, replacement and inflationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/tyreremoval.htm
  52. Fatal accident during maintenance on multipiece vehicle wheel with pneumatic tyreshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/wheel-and-tyres.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

MVR
Motor Vehicle Repair
COSHH
Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health

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Updated 2021-02-01