Sunnyside paint thinners or varnish thinners

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made May 18, 2020 · , sent to the company Jun 17, 2020 · , published by CPSC Jul 1, 2020

   The product, in the report: Sunnyside Paint thinner sold in one gallon plastic container, product number 701G1 UPC code 076542000303

   On February 26, 2020, I purchased a one gallon container of Sunnyside Paint Thinner, The product number is 701G1 and the UPC number under the bar code is 076542000303. The container is made of white plastic and the factory seal under the cap is still intact.

   Over the course of the weeks since this purchase, I have noticed the odor of paint thinner in my basement whenever I went near the area where this paint thinner is stored. I have repetitively sniffed around my basement to determine the source of this odor as I am worried about causing explosive fumes to build up in my basement. I have an opened and partially used container of the same product as well as this new unopened container.

   Each time I would notice the odor I would sniff for the source. But it was not the previously opened container of paint thinner that was emitting the odor each time I but the new unopened container. I even tried placing the new container of paint thinner in a different part of my basement and each time I find the odor of paint thinner is strongest next to the unopend container of paint thinner. I have this container of paint thinner now sitting on my desk at my computer as I write this report to you. When I put my nose next to the container I can distinctly notice the outside of the container smells of paint thinner. Yet the container of paint thinner still has its intact seal under the cap.

   Also, the plastic container has started to collapse inward as if some of the product has been removed and the container was squeezed to let the air out and then resealed again. But I assure you this container has never been opened. Any loss of liquid contents of this container must have occurred as a result of the out-gassing of the product through the walls of the plastic container after the container was filled and sealed at the factory. I would guess the perhaps about a half of cup of paint thinner has out-gassed so far from this sealed one gallon container of paint thinner judging from how much the container walls are sucked in.

   I have also recently visited the same Menard’s store where I purchased this product, and when I have gone by the paint department shelves containing this same product, I can also distinctly notice a fairly strong paint thinner odor in that area of the store. I even reported it to the paint department employee and had them come over to notice the odor but they didn’t seem very concerned.

   I am strongly concerned that the plastic that these containers are made out of is slightly gas permeable. I believe the paint thinner is slowly out-gassing through the walls of the container and evaporating but the air or nitrogen in the air space is not able to get through the container walls. Thus, the container is slowly collapsing inward as the paint thinner out-gasses through the container wall.

   I believe that this is a safety hazard and should be investigated. Containers that are made to contain flammable solvents must be made of a plastic that is totally gas impermeable. I worry that millions of gallons of paint thinner are being sold all over the world in containers like this that are not totally impermeable to flammable solvents. Please respond to my concern and address this issue ASAP as I am sure that more of this product is sitting on store shelves all across the US waiting for purchase. I will keep this container of paint thinner for a few weeks but must eventually return it if you do not contact me. The next time I buy paint thinner, I will purchase it in a tight sealing metal can.

   Model

   Product # 701G1

   UPC

   076542000303

   Bought from

   Menard’s

   Bought

   Feb 26, 2020

   Where

   Madison, Wisconsin: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 71, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Sunnyside, made or sold by Sunnyside Corporation

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources