John Baymore on mon 22 jul 96
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............. the subject of barium. Does any body know how this is most
hazardous to potters? Is it usually breathed in, injested, or aborbed into the
skin? ........... Also, one thing I've always wondered--how do people
undergoing
some medical tests swallow radioactive barium and come away with no health
concerns as a result?
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It can be gotten into the system all three ways, however skin contact is the
usual "heavy contact" that potters have...... while glazing. Particularly an
issue with chapped, hang-nailed, typical potter's hands . Also inhallation
while weighing out dry materials, or from the general studio clay dust if you
are using an earthenware that has barium in it to prevent scumming. If you eat
in the studio, barium is only one of the things you should worry about .
Medical barium is in a different form...... it is not absorbed in the digestive
system. Contact Monona Russol (got the spelling right!) at
75054.2542@Compuserve.com for LOTS more info.
....................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
Wilton, NH
76506.3102@Compuserve.com
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