Earl Brunner on wed 22 aug 01
Why don't you give us a list of what they are removing? Why should we
try to second guess?
Sabra Wood wrote:
> hi, everyone.
>
> today i found out that certain glaze materials are going to be permanently removed
> from the glaze pantry because they are dangerous.
>
> this glaze pantry is part of a bfa / mfa program in ceramics.
>
> i wasnt to be sure that this decision is made based on facts, not "conventional
> wisdom".
>
> there's been some great info in the past on material toxicity...s o...
>
> dies anyone have a list of the "top 10" dangerous materials when making up glazes...
> assuming, of course, that proper procedures are followed...
>
> thanks in advance.
>
> sabra wood
>
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Earl Brunner
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Sabra Wood on wed 22 aug 01
hi, everyone.
today i found out that certain glaze materials are going to be permanently removed
from the glaze pantry because they are dangerous.
this glaze pantry is part of a bfa / mfa program in ceramics.
i wasnt to be sure that this decision is made based on facts, not "conventional
wisdom".
there's been some great info in the past on material toxicity...s o...
dies anyone have a list of the "top 10" dangerous materials when making up glazes...
assuming, of course, that proper procedures are followed...
thanks in advance.
sabra wood
John Hesselberth on thu 23 aug 01
on 8/22/01 9:26 PM, Sabra Wood at swood2@ROCHESTER.RR.COM wrote:
> dies anyone have a list of the "top 10" dangerous materials when making up
> glazes...
> assuming, of course, that proper procedures are followed...
Hi Sabra,
You added a key phrase at the end--assuming proper procedures are followed.
Any glaze material can be handled safely if proper procedures are followed.
The problem is that lots of people ignore or refuse to learn or follow
proper procedures. Or the studio owner doesn't enforce them--or doesn't know
them him/herself.
The top of the list probably has to be most lead and cadmium containing
materials. Few studios or schools have the equipment or procedures in place
to handle these safely. Nor do they insist on testing the final products
for lead and cadmium release. Some people will argue that the Cerdec
inclusion stains, which contain cadmium, should not be on the list; however
you still have to assure that the finished pots don't release more cadmium
than the law allows.
After that, I would say it would depend on how well your school enforces
procedure and teaches safe practices.
Barium carbonate is the next that comes to mind. It is pretty toxic in its
own right and controversial for use on food-bearing surfaces. But there is
little or no information to prove anyone has really been hurt by its use.
Silica dust has probably hurt more people.
Manganese dust and fumes are serious problems. I would certainly not have
them around careless potters, but, again, they can be handled safely if you
know what you are doing.
Nickel oxide is a suspected human carcinogen--same comment as above.
I could go on and on because clay dust or silica dust can also be very
dangerous if not handled properly.
I think your school might want to remove lead and cadmium and then focus the
rest of their efforts on instilling proper safety attitude, procedures and
equipment. I certainly don't want some jerk blowing 325 mesh silica all
over a studio for me to breathe and if we start talking about banning
silica-containing materials, we are out of business as potters.
With respect to those that I've listed in the middle like barium and
manganese--I might take those out of a community studio, but seems to me
anyone working toward a BFA or MFA better know how to handle those safely or
they should find another career. And the instructors better know how to
teach people to handle all our materials safely or they should also find
another career.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
John
Web site: http://www.frogpondpottery.com Email: john@frogpondpottery.com
"The life so short, the craft so long to learn." Chaucer's translation of
Hippocrates, 5th cent. B.C.
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