Description
Potential exposure to the metals in glazes (arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, nickel, vanadium, and uranium); dusts from clay and slip casting (silica and talc); and to kiln emissions (carbon monoxide, inorganic fluorides, and sulfur dioxide); [Rom, 3rd ed, p. 1466] [ILO Encyclo, Vol.3, p. 96.1-96.54] [Pike, S. Art and Artists. In: Sullivan J, Krieger G (eds). Hazardous Materials Toxicology.Baltimore:Williams & Wilkins,1992;695] Pottery workers are at risk for irritant contact dermatitis from water and to allergic contact dermatitis from cobalt, nickel, and chromium in enamels, biocides added to clay, and turpentine used by enamellers and decorators. [Kanerva, p. 878] A survey of pottery kiln emissions at 50 sites found unacceptable ventilation in some small kiln rooms with one measurement for acrolein and one for SO2 exceeding TLVs. [Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1998 Oct;59(10):706-14] Potential inhalation exposures from barium and lithium fluxes; antimony, barium, cobalt, lead, lithium, manganese, and vanadium colorants; silica dust; solvents used to spray glazes; CO, SO2, NO2, and ozone from kilns; and HCl from salt glazing (avoid by using Na2CO3 instead of NaCl; [http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/medium.html] For safety practices, see [PMID 28665840]