sallypots on wed 3 may 00
Greetings from a Lurker,
I've known I had neurological problems for a couple of years. Last
Wednesday, I got the final diagnosis, Parkinson's Disease.
Now, I may never know what caused the PD, but I do know that I worked as a
production potter doing street festivals for years. I got it down to doing
approximately fifteen shows a year in the San Jose, CA area.
One popular item, I made, was a low ikabana bowl glazed in black with the
wide rim unglazed. This black glaze contained Manganese Dioxide.
The easy way to do this was to glaze the whole bowl and then remove the
glaze from the rim.
I used one of those sponges that have a rough scrubber side to them. I
would scrub the glaze loose and use the wet sponge side to clean it up. Did
I always have a mask on --- NO! Was it ignorance, laziness, or hot weather
at times?
I wasn't a member of Clayart at the time and I don't believe I realized the
potential danger. I know there are a variety of attitudes regarding safety
among you, but PLEASE,
error on the side of CAUTION!!
On a positive note, I am no longer doing shows and I am on disability, but
Monday I threw my first pot in a long time. It felt so good! It was a
planter weighing approximately 10-12 lbs.
I know I have other pots in me, just waiting to be made, and I'm going to
make them.
Listen to the voices urging caution and KEEP SAFE!!!!
Sally McLeod, 59 from San Jose, CA
--- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 11:38 AM
Subject: Re: FOODSAFE LEACHING LIMITS FOR OXIDES (fwd)
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 11:30:17 EDT
> > From: John Hesselberth
> > Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> > To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> > Subject: Re: FOODSAFE LEACHING LIMITS FOR OXIDES
> > Resent-Subject: Re: FOODSAFE LEACHING LIMITS FOR OXIDES
> > ----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
> > sibylle wrote:
> >
> > >Concerning your info about mangan, what it the correctly way to use
mangan
> > >in aglaze? And can I colour my clay by kneading (or wedging, if you
like)
> with
> > >mangawithout danger, working with a mask or can it poison me through
the
> skin?
> >
> > Hi Sibylle,
> >
> > The primary danger from use of manganese is in breathing the fumes that
> > are released during firing. <
>
> We used to think this was so, but now it really appears that whether you
> inhale the dust or the fume, the problem is the same. There used to be a
> separate air quality standard (TLV) for the fume. Now there is a single
TLV
> of 0.2 mg/m3 that applies to manganese no matter what its form or particle
> size.
>
> Small fume particles can get into the alveoli and into the blood stream
from
> there. But small dust particles also get into the alveoli. And the large
> particles inhaled in the lung are cleared and swallowed.
>
> And of course, there are populations such as miners that were never
exposed
> to fume in any form that developed manganese Parkinson's disease.
>
> >SNIP
>
> > We actually consume quite a bit a manganese in our everyday diet so it
is
> > not among the most toxic of materials to ingest. <
>
> In fact, a tiny amount is needed in the diet. It is an essential element
in
> involved in several basic enzymatic processes. But when the amount in the
> diet exceeds this, the toxic problems begin. This is the same pattern
with
> many metals.
>
> Absorption from the gut is low, but an important route. So be careful
both
> of kiln fumes and the dust around the pottery that may contain manganese.
>
> > Nonetheless, we should
> > be careful in handling it. Certainly a good dust mask (preferably HEPA
> > type) should be worn when mixing glazes containing manganese dioxide.
I
> > am not aware of any problems being reported as a result of wedging clay
> > containing granular manganese. Certainly of lot of potters use that
type
> > of clay. If anyone else has information of that type hopefully they
will
> > post it. <
>
> I am personally convinced that the potters with manganese problems were
being
> exposed in several ways including to the dust.
>
> There is no data on whether or not manganese can significantly skin
absorb.
> This probably is not a major route, but I never rule anything out without
> data.
>
>
> Monona Rossol
> ACTS
> 181 Thompson St., # 23
> NYC NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
>
> ACTSNYC@cs.com
>
Kent / Pat on thu 4 may 00
Hi Sally and others
I too am disabled. My problems (partial list) are pulmonary hypertension,
dysautonomia (autonomic nervous system is not very functional), peripheral
neuropathy in my feet and now my hands, diabetes (30+ years) and the list
goes on and on. These problems became apparent prior to working with clay.
But for now, I have chosen to continue to work in clay and fire in low fire
salt and raku. BUT and this is a big "but", I am very aware of my
limitations and safety factors.
After my last angioplasty, I had others fire my raku pieces for me, but as
of 5/4/00, I will have filter mask. And I will use it. I use a lighter
weight mask when I sand greenware .
No one has ever said that working in clay was risk free. I am just making
me and the process work together in the safest manner possible. And if I
can choose to keep working with all the toxicity and dust and myriad of
other dangers, then so can healthy people. The point that Sally made cannot
be stressed enough. Be safe. But I also think that BE AWARE of process,
equipment, materials, and your own limitations and expertise is the
cornerstone of being safe. I would not want anyone to miss the opportunity
of working in the medium by being afraid of the process, materials or self
confidence. I love clay too much.
----- Original Message -----
From: "sallypots"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: BE SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Greetings from a Lurker,
>
> I've known I had neurological problems for a couple of years. Last
> Wednesday, I got the final diagnosis, Parkinson's Disease.
>
> Now, I may never know what caused the PD, but I do know that I worked as a
> production potter doing street festivals for years. I got it down to
doing
> approximately fifteen shows a year in the San Jose, CA area.
>
> One popular item, I made, was a low ikabana bowl glazed in black with the
> wide rim unglazed. This black glaze contained Manganese Dioxide.
>
> The easy way to do this was to glaze the whole bowl and then remove the
> glaze from the rim.
> I used one of those sponges that have a rough scrubber side to them. I
> would scrub the glaze loose and use the wet sponge side to clean it up.
Did
> I always have a mask on --- NO! Was it ignorance, laziness, or hot
weather
> at times?
>
> I wasn't a member of Clayart at the time and I don't believe I realized
the
> potential danger. I know there are a variety of attitudes regarding safety
> among you, but PLEASE,
> error on the side of CAUTION!!
>
> On a positive note, I am no longer doing shows and I am on disability, but
> Monday I threw my first pot in a long time. It felt so good! It was a
> planter weighing approximately 10-12 lbs.
> I know I have other pots in me, just waiting to be made, and I'm going to
> make them.
>
> Listen to the voices urging caution and KEEP SAFE!!!!
>
> Sally McLeod, 59 from San Jose, CA
> --- Original Message -----
> From:
> To:
> Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 11:38 AM
> Subject: Re: FOODSAFE LEACHING LIMITS FOR OXIDES (fwd)
>
>
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >
> > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 11:30:17 EDT
> > > From: John Hesselberth
> > > Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> > > To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> > > Subject: Re: FOODSAFE LEACHING LIMITS FOR OXIDES
> > > Resent-Subject: Re: FOODSAFE LEACHING LIMITS FOR OXIDES
> > > ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> > > sibylle wrote:
> > >
> > > >Concerning your info about mangan, what it the correctly way to use
> mangan
> > > >in aglaze? And can I colour my clay by kneading (or wedging, if you
> like)
> > with
> > > >mangawithout danger, working with a mask or can it poison me through
> the
> > skin?
> > >
> > > Hi Sibylle,
> > >
> > > The primary danger from use of manganese is in breathing the fumes
that
> > > are released during firing. <
> >
> > We used to think this was so, but now it really appears that whether you
> > inhale the dust or the fume, the problem is the same. There used to be
a
> > separate air quality standard (TLV) for the fume. Now there is a single
> TLV
> > of 0.2 mg/m3 that applies to manganese no matter what its form or
particle
> > size.
> >
> > Small fume particles can get into the alveoli and into the blood stream
> from
> > there. But small dust particles also get into the alveoli. And the
large
> > particles inhaled in the lung are cleared and swallowed.
> >
> > And of course, there are populations such as miners that were never
> exposed
> > to fume in any form that developed manganese Parkinson's disease.
> >
> > >SNIP
> >
> > > We actually consume quite a bit a manganese in our everyday diet so
it
> is
> > > not among the most toxic of materials to ingest. <
> >
> > In fact, a tiny amount is needed in the diet. It is an essential
element
> in
> > involved in several basic enzymatic processes. But when the amount in
the
> > diet exceeds this, the toxic problems begin. This is the same pattern
> with
> > many metals.
> >
> > Absorption from the gut is low, but an important route. So be careful
> both
> > of kiln fumes and the dust around the pottery that may contain
manganese.
> >
> > > Nonetheless, we should
> > > be careful in handling it. Certainly a good dust mask (preferably
HEPA
> > > type) should be worn when mixing glazes containing manganese dioxide.
> I
> > > am not aware of any problems being reported as a result of wedging
clay
> > > containing granular manganese. Certainly of lot of potters use that
> type
> > > of clay. If anyone else has information of that type hopefully they
> will
> > > post it. <
> >
> > I am personally convinced that the potters with manganese problems were
> being
> > exposed in several ways including to the dust.
> >
> > There is no data on whether or not manganese can significantly skin
> absorb.
> > This probably is not a major route, but I never rule anything out
without
> > data.
> >
> >
> > Monona Rossol
> > ACTS
> > 181 Thompson St., # 23
> > NYC NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
> >
> > ACTSNYC@cs.com
> >
SAM YANCY on fri 5 may 00
Kent/Pat - hello!
I really appreciate you talking about the need to 'be safe' while
working with clay.
As I sit here typing my eyes glisten like a stream at sunset and my
eyelids resemble a sailor's delight for that sunset!
Yesterday I cleaned the house. We have our studio in the basement. No
matter how much I try to keep the dust out, it still permeates into
everything. Got rid of the stuff I could see, but wonder how much dust
gets into even the wash machine?
Any thoughts on how to care for body wear when working in clay? I
usually wear a T-shirt and nylon jogging pants, easy to wipe off. I wash
them separately but wonder how much clay gets into all the clothes? What
about changing out of your clay clothes? Do you change in your studio or
where?
I have been raggin' on my husband - also a clay guy - to change in the
basement and to wipe his feet before coming upstairs. I too need to
become more aware of this stuff. Any comment's will be welcome.
Sincerely Mary Jean - former suzzie homemaker looking for better things
to do than clean all the time.
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