John Baymore on sat 25 oct 97
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......snip......
Gary, your best bet right now is to read the article in the Sept. 97 issue
of
Ceramics Monthly...=22Is Barium Carbonate Safe?=22 by Jeff Zamek.
......snip.......
Gotta strongly disagree here, Gary.
First, search the archives on CLAYART and read the past threads.... to save
from rehashing a lot of K of messages here....there has been a huge amount
of discussion in the last year to year and a half. You will find VERY
divergent (and often heated) opinions in that discussion from many people
with a lot of solid background.
This isn't a simple issue. You will have to sort out for yourself what you
feel is the =22wheat from the chaff=22 in that stuff. To do that you'll =
have
to invest some time doing some research.
You should certainly read Jeff Zamek's piece in CM.
Then, (and very importantly) read =22Artist Beware=22 by Dr. Michael McCann.
You can get it through Steve Branfmans =22Potters Shop=22... he's on e-mail=
at
sbranfpots=40aol.com. Also get Monona Rossols =22Artists Complete Health =
and
Safety Guide=22 and read that. Steve has that too, I think.
If you are seriously looking for information on toxicology in the arts
fields, you find a specialist in that area. There are two that have earned
quite a bit of prominence in this field since the early 1980's: Monona
Rossol, Industrial Hygenist (who happens to have an MFA in ceramics also)
and Dr. Michael McCann.
Monona Rossol frequents CLAYART on occasion (so might respond) or can be
reached via e-mail at 75054.2542=40Compuserve.com (For those of you getting
garbage characters.... that is the standard AT sign between the .2542 and
the Compuserve.com). She can be reached at Art, Craft, and Theatre Safety
181 Thompson St. Number 23 NY NY 10012 212-777-0062. Also via
http://www.caseweb.com/acts/
I strongly suggest that you e-mail Monona and ask her about this whole
subject and her opinion of the validity of ALL of the opinions that you
find expressed on this subject including the CLAYART archives stuff, Jeffs'
CM article, McCanns book, and so on. She is very good about answering
e-mail.
Also contact Dr. McCann via snail mail for the same answers. Dr. McCann is
not on the list, and I don't know if he still has an e-mail address (he did
at one time). He can be reached at the Center for Safety in the Arts at
2124 Broadway, Box 310 NY NY 10023.
Hope this is of value.
Best,
.....................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752
JBaymore=40Compuserve.com
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