mel jacobson on mon 2 may 05
i have been of the strong opinion for many years
that glaze and glaze dust can kill you.
i am reminded reading warren mackenzie's statement..
`working with clay and clay dust without a mask.`
it is not the clay dust that kills you...it is the glaze dust
that gets you.
i worked for 35 years in an art room full of clay dust.
but, i did not have glaze dust. used water, cleaned up
right away. and that volcanic ash glaze i used had
very big particle size. that helps.
i have had the luxury of having a dear friend that buys
my pots, that is the state toxicologist. he has looked at
my studio and feels that as long as i clean up glaze i am
safe as a baby eagle in a nest.
he has said to me often...`glaze dust will kill you. clay
dust is rather big..of course don't be cavalier with it.
keep things clean. but, get serious about glaze dust.`
it is very hard to imagine warren with white lung disease.
he has always had a clean studio/in my opinion.
but, it does happen to the best. so, be careful.
listen to ron roy...he knows. and old bastard/chard has been
a great help to us all....thank them, and listen.
it does not mean you have to wrap yourself in saran wrap/head to toe.
good common sense. keep things clean.
i have used oiled sawdust on my floor for 40 years. my school room got a
fresh 3 lbs each morning. big handfuls all over. drove some people
nuts...`who who who..sawdust on the corridor floor`.
screw them..it was my lungs.
my pal at the farm, bob holman has severe parkinson's disease. i know for
a fact that it was caused by solder/silver/teaching jewelry in a room
with no vents. 25 years. think of the crap in his brain from doing that.
everyone looks the other way...`not our fault`, anyway he is just an art
teacher.`
if one kid would have gotten sick...the room would have been vented, cleaned
and rebuilt for 90,000 bucks...but, who cares about a teacher? get another
one.
mel
like good tools, if you don't take care of your own studio, clay and glaze
dust...well, see you in the home with the little plastic band on your wrist.
tsk, tsk...poor fella.
from mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Ron Roy on wed 4 may 05
Not true of course - most of the clays we use have microfine free silica in
them - it's how I got my silicosis.
Remember - we spend more time with clay than mixing glazes.
I remember reading about British potters - working in a cleaned up
workplace - wiping clay on their aprons - as it dried and cracked - body
heat transported fine silica up to their nose - some still got silicosis -
from the clay.
RR
>it is not the clay dust that kills you...it is the glaze dust
>that gets you.
Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0
Phone: 613-475-9544
Fax: 613-475-3513
Anne Webb on thu 5 may 05
when i was still living up in canada and had a closed in studio, I splurged
got an industrial air filtration machine designed for the size of my small
studio. It was great.. there was a really dramatic improvement in the air
quality, noticeable within even an hr of my turning it on. it had a layered
filtration system ...layers of fiber, charcoal, foam etc. not only for
silica but for some chemical irritants as well. it was a little pricey as i
recall but it really did work, not just a gimmick. sure beat walking out of
the studio with a heavy chest feeling each day.
boy i wish i could remember the name of the company now. it was a relatively
small co which was located somewhere around or just outside toronto. I think
i may have even bought the unit at Tucker's.... Tucker's Pottery Supply in
Richmond Hill, Ont.
its also adviseable to hose out (if possible) or at the very least wet/damp
mop your studio floor daily. sweeping compound and oil treated sawdust are
NOT sufficient on their own.. you still raise dust, even if you cant see it,
when you sweep. ..i know, sweeping cant always be avoided, but wear a noish
approved mask. (you can get proper masks & filters at the hardware store a
whole lot cheaper than from some pottery suppliers). surgical masks dont cut
it with this kind of dust.
as a suggestion (i think ron even said this at his glaze workshop), keep
your mask in a big zip lock bag when its not in use instead of hanging on a
hook on the wall of your studio where it is sitting there collecting silica
dust on the inside of the mask. duh. ...common sense stuff u already know.
there is more on this in the archives ..posts from monona and others from a
few yrs back.
anne
>From: Ron Roy
>Not true of course - most of the clays we use have microfine free silica in
>them - it's how I got my silicosis.
>
>Remember - we spend more time with clay than mixing glazes.
>
>I remember reading about British potters - working in a cleaned up
>workplace - wiping clay on their aprons - as it dried and cracked - body
>heat transported fine silica up to their nose - some still got silicosis -
>from the clay.
>
>RR
>
>
> >it is not the clay dust that kills you...it is the glaze dust
> >that gets you.
_________________________________________________________________
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Gayle Bair on thu 5 may 05
Anne,
I agree with what you said except for keeping the mask
in a plastic bag. I feel that sealing the mask after use
might encourage bacteria growth from moisture.
I keep my mask in a cabinet out of the studio.
-----Original Message-----
From: Anne Webb
snip>
as a suggestion (i think ron even said this at his glaze workshop), keep
your mask in a big zip lock bag when its not in use instead of hanging on a
hook on the wall of your studio where it is sitting there collecting silica
dust on the inside of the mask. duh. ...common sense stuff u already know.
there is more on this in the archives ..posts from monona and others from a
few yrs back.
anne
>From: Ron Roy
>Not true of course - most of the clays we use have microfine free silica in
>them - it's how I got my silicosis.
>
>Remember - we spend more time with clay than mixing glazes.
>
>I remember reading about British potters - working in a cleaned up
>workplace - wiping clay on their aprons - as it dried and cracked - body
>heat transported fine silica up to their nose - some still got silicosis -
>from the clay.
>
>RR
>
>
> >it is not the clay dust that kills you...it is the glaze dust
> >that gets you.
Ken Chin-Purcell on thu 5 may 05
> when i was still living up in canada and had a closed in studio, I splurg=
ed
> got an industrial air filtration machine designed for the size of my smal=
l
> studio.=20
I use a JDS filter, purchased at our local wood working supply (Seven
Corner's Hardware in St. Paul, www.7corners.com). They aren't that
expensive - about $280. I think they've become a commodity item for
home wood workers.
I'm aware of the issue re sub-micron silica vs. larger sawdust
particulates. I called JDS and found that they use Purolator
Serva-Pak 95 bag filters. Then I called Purolator and they faxed me
the efficiency vs. particle size chart. The "95%" filter captures a
significant portion of 0.3 micron particles - I forget how much, but
it was above 2/3. Remember that these filters are made to circulate
the room air five to ten times an hour, as opposed to HEPA filters
which are made to capture everything on the first pass.
Delta and Jet make competing filters, I just went with JDS because I
had the technical specs for it. The JDS also has a standard
disposable pre-filter, as opposed to the electrostatic pre-filters
which aren't very effective for clay dust.
The filter hangs from the ceiling. I always turn it on when I leave
for the day and let it run for four hours. It has greatly cut down on
the fine dust.
-- Ken Chin-Purcell
www.bungalowpottery.com
Snail Scott on fri 6 may 05
At 10:32 AM 5/5/2005 -0700, you wrote:
>Anne,
>I agree with what you said except for keeping the mask
>in a plastic bag. I feel that sealing the mask after use
>might encourage bacteria growth from moisture.
>I keep my mask in a cabinet out of the studio.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Anne Webb
>
>snip>
>as a suggestion (i think ron even said this at his glaze workshop), keep
>your mask in a big zip lock bag when its not in use instead of hanging on a
>hook on the wall...
OSHA regs require that respirator masks be kept in
sealed containers, and zip-lock freezer bags work
well for the purpose. I never observed any fungal or
bacterial growth on my mask, but perhaps putting a
paper towel in there with it (which could be swapped
out often) could reduce moisture accumulation in the
bag. (I just wipe out my mask before bagging).
The reason that respirators must be bagged is that
the contaminants in the air don't necessarily go
away just because you quit working, and the last
place you want toxic fumes or even nuisance dusts to
accumulate is on the INSIDE surface of your filters!
I see too many people who scrupulously wear their
mask while mixing clay (or whatever), then leave it
just hanging on a peg in the mixing area until the
next time. Filthy, dusty masks...
Keeping your mask physically separated from the
source of contamination by removing it from the work
area to a cleaner locale will certainly do the job,
though.
-Snail
Cindy in SD on fri 6 may 05
So, I live way back in the hill country. We have, of course, dirt roads.
"If the directions to your house include the words, 'and then you turn
off the main dirt road', you might be a redneck." Well, that's us, all
right. Is the bit of dust rising from my skin when I scratch my nose
worse than taking a walk, I wonder? We're in a drought, so maybe taking
the walk is worse.
Cindy in SD
Lee Love on fri 6 may 05
Gayle Bair wrote:
>Anne,
>I agree with what you said except for keeping the mask
>in a plastic bag. I feel that sealing the mask after use
>might encourage bacteria growth from moisture.
>I keep my mask in a cabinet out of the studio.
>
>
Here in Japan mositure is a big problem. To fight mold and mildew,
sunshine is the best tool. I disasseble my mask and put it in the sun
when I can, before I put it away.
--
ζ Lee Love 倧
ζγγ γγ ι±
in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://hankos.blogspot.com/ Visual Bookmarks
http://ikiru.blogspot.com/ Zen and Craft
Susan Fox-Hirschmann on fri 6 may 05
Scrubbing it down your mask and letting it dry before using it again, and
being meticulous about replacing he filters each time you wear it, I think is
also helpful.
Also, when I built my new studio 2 years ago, I put in a Paasche Airbrush
booth....and that has been great invaluable addition to this studio. I change
the filters on that regularly as well. Before that I had a "homemade" airbrush
booth in the basement where I was working, and tho I still always wore and
wear a mask when spraying glazes or stains, I would smell it in the air in the
homemade booth. I would work there for a while and then get the hell out til the
dust settled. This Paasche booth has transformed my studio, in that there is
no smell....it has one big motor on it that really gets all the airborne stuff
out. I think it was one of the best investments that I made.
We can never be too careful, right?
Best,
Susan
Annandale, VA
Lee Love on fri 6 may 05
Ron Roy wrote:
>Not true of course - most of the clays we use have microfine free silica in
>them - it's how I got my silicosis.
>
Silica dust is our number one health hazard. Makes you wonder if our air
floated commercial materials add to the health hazard?
--
ζ Lee Love 倧
ζγγ γγ ι±
in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://hankos.blogspot.com/ Visual Bookmarks
http://ikiru.blogspot.com/ Zen and Craft
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sat 7 may 05
Hi Snail, all
When I use one, (and yes, I almost never do, but I have several 'black' soft
rubber ones, and they are U.S. Bureau of Mines rated, single and dual
finlter kinds, and pre Stock Market Crash era with blotter-paper filters,
light and comfortable, and good looking too,) I like to remember to wash it
out when I am done, and, to leave it somewhere non-dusty for it to dry out
completely.
The condensation from one's breath is not good to leave in the Mask, nor
without washing, with that condensation left in it, will a mere cursory
drying of it be a guarentee against molds or mildew, whose spores one does
well not to aspire when wearing the Mask next time.
When done, take them apart, remove the filters and their holders, wash all
(but the filter elements themselves if cannister types, or if like mine,
they are merely circles of Blotter Paper or the likes and ) wash all else
well in mild Soap and warm Water, and let dry somewhere warm and out of the
way.
I used to use mine for Sand Blasting...under the 'hood'...
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Snail Scott"
> At 10:32 AM 5/5/2005 -0700, you wrote:
> >Anne,
> >I agree with what you said except for keeping the mask
> >in a plastic bag. I feel that sealing the mask after use
> >might encourage bacteria growth from moisture.
> >I keep my mask in a cabinet out of the studio.
Vince Pitelka on sat 7 may 05
> So, I live way back in the hill country. We have, of course, dirt roads.
> "If the directions to your house include the words, 'and then you turn
> off the main dirt road', you might be a redneck." Well, that's us, all
> right. Is the bit of dust rising from my skin when I scratch my nose
> worse than taking a walk, I wonder? We're in a drought, so maybe taking
> the walk is worse.
Cindy gives us a bit of good common sense here. I worry about some of the
things people do to protect from dust, because I think they sometimes
backfire. In the studio we must always look out for lung health, but I am
concerned about those overhead air purifier unts that aren't really designed
for ceramic studio use, because they incorporate a fan that moves air around
the studio. Unless they are removing 100% of the fine particles, I am
afraid that they are just circulating the finest particles around the
studio, and when it comes to silica, those are the worst. The healthy lung
can expel the larger silica particles, but it builds scar tissue around the
small ones, and over time, with continuing inhallation of fine silica
particles, could eventually develop silicosis. I think it is far better to
wash down the studio regularly to get rid of all the dust. Also,
dust-creating endeavors should be conducted outside whenever possible,
because even if you are wearing a respirator, the dust is settling on your
clothing and on every surface in your studio. Later, after you remove the
dust mask, you breathe the dust that is on your clothing, and any air
currents in your studio raise the dust back into the air when you are not
wearing a respirator.
There is always going to be a minute fraction of dust in the air in any
studio, but that is true of so many environments, like the dusty roads and
trails Cindy mentions above. If you backpack with other people in the High
Sierra, you are breathing some silica dust. It is important to maintain
proper perspective on this.
Please do not misinterpret this. I am a strong advocate of sensible and
effective safety practices. Lung health is the most prevalent safety
concern in the ceramics studio, but must be approached sensibly and
realistically, with no illusions about what is protecting you.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
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