Fog Machine Health Question

[windsweptdj]

So I'm playing with my new fog machine with a friend and my garage/studio is full of smoke or well fog?and he says,whats your life expectancy with this thing?I didnt have a good answer for him....So I turn to all of you....Is there any health issues?I have little kids with little lungs.....

[alterboy]

Interesting question...here's what I found:

According to a Seattle Times article, "The fog is created using propylene glycol and triethylene glycol, mixed with 20 percent water." One thing that is not clear is whether this fog has any side effects on people's lungs. It seems like it is a problem for asthmatics, but nothing has been proven conclusively for the general population.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/question240.htm

[DJ D3CIB3L]

i remember when i got my first fog machine way back when. It was a small gemmy "the fog machine" fogger- and it still works today. Anyways- my pops always used to tell me that it wasnt good to use it cause it would mess up your lungs. I would never listen- but i guess its true. Fog juice smells bad when used alone- it makes my head hurt most of the time- which is the reason why many people i know dont use fog or use fog scent with their fog. Personally, i dont like it- but the customers do.

Now, i know it probably is harmful- but ive seen people inhale it and play with it. When i say this, i mean they have put their mouth close to the nozzle and put fog in their mouth and then get rid of it through their nose. Ive seen people inhale fog and eat the smoke. Dont ask me how they do it- but ive seen them do it. Afterwards- they had baddd headaches and coughed alot for like a half hour. I dont know- manufacturers say fog isnt bad.

Personally- i dont use fog too much. I supply it free of charge when requested- but due to the risk of fire alarms and sprinklers and a lawsuit dealing with an asthma attack- i dont like it. Fog carries too many risks- probably including long term lung damage. I dont think you should use it too much. If you are at a gig where the place is big- i guess you could use it- but i wouldnt use it at formal parties (sweet 16's and weddings etc.) unless requested. If you really need to see the beams of light- you would probably be better off with dry ice- it is much safer- as long as you dont touch it.

C ya.

[Borky]

Are haze machines just as bad as fog or are they something else?

[windsweptdj]

Okay,where are the experts?I think we may have something here....

More feedback please...And thanks....

[ConcreteClam]

Not knowing much about smoke, I doubt it's harmless at all... all smoke is bad for your lungs. I'd say it's about the same as standing next to a campfire with the wind blowing at you, but I could be wrong.

All of this is just speculation. :)

[Method2125]

Smoke from a fire is completely different from fogger fog. Smoke from a fire is the byproduct of combustion. No combustion takes place during the production of fog. The link posted earlier to the howstuffworks site gives some insight into how the fog is made.

An article written by a medical doctor stating that adverse effects of fog are minimal at best can be found here: http://www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/FS/kehrer.htm

More smoke and fog machine information is available here:
http://www.smokemachines.net/faqs.shtml

They also reference the esta.org article when talking about the safety of the fog.

If you're using the fog machine to accent lighting shows you may want to consider using a hazer. A hazer creates an ultrafine airborne mist that is almost invisible to the eye but reflects light from fixtures, enhancing lighting effects.

-Mike

[DJ Supreeme]

Its probably bad if you sleep in a room full of it. Its just like smoking cigs it will only effect you if you do it for a long time. if you enhale for a little bit nothing will happen

[Ray403]

If you buy it from a trusted brand like Antari or Chauvet from an authorized dealer the fog is non-toxic and won't effect your health, unless you have major lung problems like severe asthma. The most common effects of breathing it in on purpose (yes it happens at my mobile gigs kids run up when fog is blowing out the nozzle and they put their mouth in front of it and breath it in... dumb kids i say) it just gives a sore throat and a mild headache. But if you don't inhale it like a joint or cigarette it won't do anything.

[Method2125]

The reason people get headaches and sore throats from breathing it heavily is that the glycol fog is hygroscopic, meaning it will readily pull moisture out of the atmosphere (and your body if you breathe it in). Just like the headache from a hangover is caused by dehydration in your brain cells, you'll get a headache if the hygroscopic action of the smoke dehydrates you enough.

[DJ D3CIB3L]

(yes it happens at my mobile gigs kids run up when fog is blowing out the nozzle and they put their mouth in front of it and breath it in... dumb kids i say)



lol- so youve been through that too huh? so have i.

Anyway- i get all whoozy around fog even though my health is perfectly fine- i dont have asthma. But thats just me. Id rather have nothing happen than be blamed for an asthma attack at a mobile gig. Its ok to use it- but use it sparingly- only to show the beams of light- not to make the whole banquet hall a ball of smoke :dance:

[alterboy]

I might be wrong here, but I believe there is a high end fogger that uses nothing but water....at least that's what I was told by the light tech at the DJ convention a couple years ago. :shrug:

[Ray403]

I might be wrong here, but I believe there is a high end fogger that uses nothing but water....at least that's what I was told by the light tech at the DJ convention a couple years ago. :shrug:

Hmm... Scientifically that wouldn't work, unless it is a 'mist' machine, or had some other type of chemical/substances added to it. The boiliing point of water is way too high to change state, I hope it wasn't a steamer either... :uhoh:

Also make sure it is water based, and if it smells bad either a oil based fog is being used (which is really bad) or something with the fluid of machine isn't right. Oil based fog can irritate your lungs and skin, and shouldn't be used. Also it usually smells like burning rubber.

Dry ice will also work nicely for fog, but usually you need something supplying it heat for it to sublimate into the air, and spread because when it sublimates it stays low due to it's lower temperature. It's nice because it can help cool down the place if there are a lot of people and no AC. Pouring tap water on the dry slowly helps it to sublimate, but many times it ends up freezing, and creating a mess.

[Hygro]

The reason people get headaches and sore throats from breathing it heavily is that the glycol fog is hygroscopic, meaning it will readily pull moisture out of the atmosphere (and your body if you breathe it in). Just like the headache from a hangover is caused by dehydration in your brain cells, you'll get a headache if the hygroscopic action of the smoke dehydrates you enough.
Gh'aa! First time I've seen my account name being used in a sentence!

[tylerhollyfield]

Gh'aa! First time I've seen my account name being used in a sentence!


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