B83 paint

Hello. Looking for anyone who worked on the B83 at the beginning when we painted them with airbrushes. You know, without respirators. Specifically at Plattsburgh or Pease in the mid 80's. I left Plattsburgh for Edwards for a couple of years and when I came back was told the paint was eliminated because it was too toxic. I have since developed some medical issues that my doctor said were indicative of chemical toxicity. He asked about Agent Orange. I had no contact with that but started to think about all the chemicals we dealt with before we were allowed respirators. Besides MEK and all the common chemicals I thought of that B83 paint.

Anyone have an idea on how to find out what it was. It isn't in the last copy of my CDC's.

Thanks to anyone who can point me in the right direction.

Bruce (Frank),
I believe it was an epoxy polymide, two component mixture.
I think we raised a stink about the fan exhaust system, and they drew blood on us semi-annually.
I'm wondering if the other nasty stuff we worked with, zinc chromate primer, toluene, MEK, etc., may be a contributing factor. Also, what was the release agent we used before putting the 61 sub assy's back together?

Yours, Mike

FWIW ... when I was at Plattsburgh in 72 thru 76, we started using the airbrush technique of painting the 43s and 61s. They both had epoxy paints, the 61 definitely had epoxy polymide paint. Came in two separate gallon cans, with a separate can of aluminum pigment.

My old roommate at the time, Rich Bush initiated the use of airbrushes as he used to use them when he did models, and the finish turned out so much better than the old brush technique. We did use respirators when we sprayed major areas with them; and whenever we refurbished a 43 bolster, as we had a very strict safety NCO.

Neil Zampella