Originally Posted by
biz77
True! MSDS sheets available for all of them. While oil of wintergreen can be harmful and even fatal in large enough doses, MSDS indicates in most cases the oil of wintergreen-based traction compounds are in fact less harmful to your health than the "oderless" compounds with similar exposures. But I guess for most track operators, the thought process is "if you can't smell it, then it can't hurt you."
As another guy who deals with chemicals and such professionally, the odorless compounds are not as bad as the oil of wintergreen based stuff. Old school paragon-type stuff can contain Xylene, Toluene, benzene, the stuff is basically paint stripper in terms of chemicals. Once upon a time some guy had some "home brew" that smelled like bubble gum and would smoke if you dropped some of it on a finished surface.
That being said, it worked pretty well. Just keep it off your hands.