Lili Krakowski on mon 1 sep 08
There just was a thread on Raku firing and what they called "Raku
hangover" and much speculation about whether it was caused by
fumes, by smoke, by fatigue, dehydration, or over-excitement.
It is to be noted that when Dr. Luigi Galvani discovered or
invented galvanization--that which
adorns metal garbage cans--he did not foresee raku firings.
I have been reading those posts with
dread in my heart. Because at least two potters I know who did
pit firing and raku in galvanized garbage cans got HEAVY METAL
POISONING for their pains.
PLEASE all of you who have had bad after effects, what you call
"hangovers" after firing have yourselves tested for metal
poisoning. I gather it is a simple test done on hair. If I do
not scare you enough--and I hope I do--Google heavy metal
poisoning.
I really am troubled by the cheerfulness of the reports of Raku
hangovers. Be advised that just as regular alcohol induced
hangovers pass, but one's liver stays fried, so these hangovers
may be doing real damage. I mean REAL.
And, if, Gd forbid, it turns out you do have heavy metal
poisoning then please sound the alarm for others.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Paul Haigh on tue 2 sep 08
Lili makes some good points. This is pretty common for welders who may get "metal fume fever" from zinc oxide fumes created when welding galvanized steel. Interestingly- your body gets used to it quickly, and a few days off of exposure means that you will have flu symptoms again when exposed. This has led to the name "Monday morning fever" as they may exhibit symptoms after the weekend off (different than my Sunday morning fever after camping with friends bearing tequila this past Saturday).
Most sources claim that it's "non toxic" and "non carcinogenic" as there have been studies and no long-term effects are observed for zinc, which is the galvanizing material. Personally- cancer or not- I'd worry about other neurological etc long term effects. In raku, it could be from a number of other metals used in addition to zinc I suppose- so other caution is probably advisable. I've seen suggestions for adding things in pit firings that really puzzle me, as well- both in terms of what you put in the ground as well as the air.
Des & Jan Howard on tue 2 sep 08
Lili
Didn't Galvani do things with frogs legs & I don't mean eat them?
Unless things are done differently in the states,
galvanisation was done with zinc & now with zinc/aluminium,
not heavy metals.
Read the writings of Edouard Bastarache on the topic of 'zinc fever'
& 'metal fume fever'.
Some metal work, such as light grille work may have cadmium in the
plating. It is not recommended to heat this to high temps &
inhale/ingest what comes off.
Des
Lili Krakowski wrote:
> There just was a thread on Raku firing and what they called "Raku
> hangover" and much speculation about whether it was caused by
> fumes, by smoke, by fatigue, dehydration, or over-excitement.
>
> It is to be noted that when Dr. Luigi Galvani discovered or
> invented galvanization--that which
> adorns metal garbage cans--he did not foresee raku firings.
>
> I have been reading those posts with
> dread in my heart. Because at least two potters I know who did
> pit firing and raku in galvanized garbage cans got HEAVY METAL
> POISONING for their pains.
>
> PLEASE all of you who have had bad after effects, what you call
> "hangovers" after firing have yourselves tested for metal
> poisoning. I gather it is a simple test done on hair. If I do
> not scare you enough--and I hope I do--Google heavy metal
> poisoning.
>
> I really am troubled by the cheerfulness of the reports of Raku
> hangovers. Be advised that just as regular alcohol induced
> hangovers pass, but one's liver stays fried, so these hangovers
> may be doing real damage. I mean REAL.
>
> And, if, Gd forbid, it turns out you do have heavy metal
> poisoning then please sound the alarm for others.
--
Des & Jan Howard
Lue Pottery
Lue NSW
Australia
2850
02 6373 6419
www.luepottery.hwy.com.au
Ron Roy on thu 4 sep 08
Metal fume fever is the result of breathig in fumes of different metals -
the toxicity issue is related directly to the toxicity of the particular
metal.
Zinc does not seem to have long lasting problems but manganese or cadmium
would have for instance.
We don't have all the information on all aspects of this subject - best to
avoid breathing fumes of any sort unless you are sure there are no long
term effects.
RR
>Lili makes some good points. This is pretty common for welders who may
>get "metal fume fever" from zinc oxide fumes created when welding
>galvanized steel. Interestingly- your body gets used to it quickly, and a
>few days off of exposure means that you will have flu symptoms again when
>exposed. This has led to the name "Monday morning fever" as they may
>exhibit symptoms after the weekend off (different than my Sunday morning
>fever after camping with friends bearing tequila this past Saturday).
>
>Most sources claim that it's "non toxic" and "non carcinogenic" as there
>have been studies and no long-term effects are observed for zinc, which is
>the galvanizing material. Personally- cancer or not- I'd worry about
>other neurological etc long term effects. In raku, it could be from a
>number of other metals used in addition to zinc I suppose- so other
>caution is probably advisable. I've seen suggestions for adding things in
>pit firings that really puzzle me, as well- both in terms of what you put
>in the ground as well as the air.
Ron Roy
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0
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