The room temperature epoxies that we buy are generally DGEBA chemistry with an amine hardener. The "BA" in DGEBA stands for bisphenol-a. The same BPA that everyone freaks out over in their water bottles. People do get sensitized to the stuff, to the point where they can't get near it. So protective gear is important. Otherwise you could wake up one day and not be able to work on your boat again with epoxy. Some might say that is not a bad thing...
Also, I seem to recall that the vinylester resins have a chemical structure of an epoxy on one end and a polyester on the other. But that composites class was a long time ago. It didn't seem to bother the guy who had DGEBA epoxy sensitivity. And it doesn't stink of styrene monomer like polyester resin.
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