Interesting reading in this thread. My war story (x3), and hoping someone can benefit from it?
Decades ago I built surfboards, boats and other aquatic toystuff made with polyester fiberglass. Had not a clue about acetone, we nearly bathed in it. One day I came within a wink of passing out while painting the bilge of a boat with Zolatone, which is cut 50/50 with acetone. Ended up a week later with a case of pneumonia that almost killed me. I was 20. Like David-Aviator, I take meds every day now. Is there a direct connection? Who knows? Better question is, who?d want to find out? Often as not, the only way to know where ?The Line? is, is to cross it. Knowing there is one and failing to respect it?well, you don?t want to say been there, dumb that ? dumb with a capital Duh.
During Desert Shield/Storm, I was with a company that built all varieties of military radomes. Our most commonly used degreaser was 1,1,1 trichloroethane, also a lot of MEK. Both are now illegal in Cali but weren?t then. Standard practice was to use a vapor respirator and two pairs of latex gloves. More times than I can remember I peeled off the outer pair only to find that an inner glove was wet. I still double glove today. Rips and pinholes happen...plan for it. And get good ones. Cheapies that tear when you look at them wrong give you a false sense of security. When the enemy is shooting at you, would you rather take cover behind a bush, or a wall?
Naphtha has been discussed. Better but still requires protection. Ten years ago an acquaintance who made custom acoustic guitars for over 25 years came down with a mysterious and debilitating sickness that was akin to sepsis in its symptoms and seriousness. It rendered him so weak he couldn?t walk more than a dozen steps. He too, nearly died. It was finally proven to be a cumulative toxic buildup from his long-term continual exposure to naphtha. He recovered but no longer pursues luthiery.
To put it the simplest way, let?s just suit up, guys. We don?t know where the line is.