[Chaostrain]

I see a lot of discussion and see on videos steamers and diesels and other things smoking. As someone that suffers from COPD/bronchitis it got me to wondering, what are the health affects of breathing this stuff? Does this stuff come with warnings? What about long term affects? What is it made of?

 

[mesenteria]

It is highly refined mineral oil. It burns very well, but the fact that you see the 'smoke' means that it does smoke. If you have COPD, and you know the risks associated with airborne pollutants, particulate matter, irritants, molds, and organic volatiles, you would be adding one more deleterious substance to the mix.

 

[D&J Railroad]

I guess you wouldn't do well with this running.

 

[Fire21]

It's a pollutant, and when it gets in your lungs, it does damage, no matter how healthy you may be. :smokin:

I've never smoked, and don't have any of my trains doing so either.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Uhh... it's not smoke, it's vaporized mineral oil. Also, it's not burning, it's simply vaporized into a mist. If you were actually burning the mineral oil would likely provide possibly toxic fumes.

Most of my trains know how to smoke, and they regularly exercise that skill!

 

[mesenteria]

Agreed, it is vapourized, not oxidized. So, it makes sense for people with iffy immune response and weakened lungs to avoid it because those aerosols end up deposited inside lung alveoli.

 

[MichaelE]

Switch over to electric and fugitaboudit...

 

[wiley2012]

I may not know much about health concerns, but with my Bachmann Plus HO-scale Consolidation I eventually didn't refill its' smoke unit after I learned the smoke was not good for the tracks. I find steam locomotive smoke more acceptable for O or G-scale trains.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Agreed, it is vapourized, not oxidized. So, it makes sense for people with iffy immune response and weakened lungs to avoid it because those aerosols end up deposited inside lung alveoli.

I think there's a lot of things that are to be avoided if you have serious respiratory issues. For reasonably healthy folks, I really doubt that vaporized mineral oil in the quantity normally encountered running trains is a big danger.

 

[flyboy2610]

My home is smoke free.Even the train room.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

My home is smoke free.Even the train room.

Everyone has to make their own choices. I don't smoke, so my trains have to pick up the slack!

 

[D&J Railroad]

My 2000 square foot basement begins to look like a cigar lounge after a few hours of steam only op session.

 

[Chaostrain]

Thanks guys! I can see it's time to purchase R95 surgical masks since it's oil based. Apparently with those I can even still enjoy Ken's basement, not that I've ever been there but you know, just in case. With it actually being vapor it's really fog and not smoke, but it would sound funny to say the trains are fogging. Lol!

 

[mesenteria]

I think there's a lot of things that are to be avoided if you have serious respiratory issues. For reasonably healthy folks, I really doubt that vaporized mineral oil in the quantity normally encountered running trains is a big danger.

Again,I agree. However, the OP is not in that category, as he stated in his OP.