Melinda Collins on tue 22 sep 09
Controversy may arise from this post, and this is for discussion only,
because I love my colored porcelain buttons and beads... My arsenic levels
are down, I found out today. The very day I had the first 24 hour test, si=
x
weeks ago, I made colored porcelain with Mason stains with my bare hands/si=
x
or seven different colors...wedging a water/stain mix into the white
porcelain--quite messy and all over my hands in a strong way....
I have done it many times before, but it has been a year and a half since I
have made colored clays this way. That seems to be the assumed culprit of
my high arsenic levels. I knew to wear latex gloves and did not. I assume=
d
the Mason stains did not have anything toxic. They may not; I am not
accusing but am assuming that Mason stains are potentially dangerous, and I
will be more careful with the undiluted raw pigments in the future, but
don't plan to stop using them.
A BIG thank you to all the kind Clayarters who took time to research and
write very helpful posts to me....I am much relieved to pinpoint what is
assumed to be the cause of my contamination, and Ron is relieved that more
people than myself know he wasn't trying to kill me......
I love you all, my great Clayart friends, Melinda
--
Small Work-No Apologies
Melinda Collins, Kerrville Texas
http://web.me.com/melindacollins
John Britt on tue 22 sep 09
Melinda,
Stains contain metal oxides which are dangerous. And when fired they stil=
=3D
l=3D20
contain the same metal oxides which are dangerous.=3D20
I remember this same admission in David Shaner's Studio Potter article. H=
=3D
e=3D20
made colored slips the same way knowing the dangers!
Maybe you will help someone else to understand that education is importan=
=3D
t=3D20
but even more important is to act on that knowledge!
Play it safe boys and girls,
John Britt
www.johnbrittpottery.com
George Lewter on tue 22 sep 09
Greetings All:
This is my first post to clayart, though I've sifted the archives for years=
.
My understanding of inorganic toxins has been that they had to be dissolved
in a solvent i.e. water, alchohol, benzene, gasoline, oil etc. in order to
be absorbed by skin contact. Most inorganic compounds that are soluble in
water are not typically used in clay products, with a few odd exceptions
like soda ash, borax, and wood ash. Most of the heavy metal oxides are not
soluble in water or oil (as in skin oil), so I'm wondering about the
mechanism of how they can cross the skin as solid particulates and enter th=
e
bloodstream.
I can readily understand that a person with some of these toxins on their
hands might ingest the toxins by inadequate handwashing prior to eating or
drinking. But it seems most likely to me that the ingestion is occurring a=
s
dusts are created through handling, sanding, scraping, of dry ware, along
with the handling of dried out, contaminated towels, rags sponges, etc. If
the dusts are inhaled, they mostly get expelled from the lungs in mucus, ar=
e
coughed up, then swallowed, and then dissolved in gastric acid. It is at
this point that a person is actually getting poisoned - dissolved toxins
able to cross cell membranes and pass into the bloodstream. To my thinking,
dust is by far the biggest toxic threat to potters.
George Lewter
Marcia Selsor on wed 23 sep 09
I have never seen arsenic, "As" chemical symbol listed in Mason stains.
I just reorganized all of mine which I have had for decades purchased
with a faculty research grant.
I hope Mason company will respond and that will be posted.
Thanks,
Marcia Selsor
On Sep 23, 2009, at 10:35 AM, Chris Campbell wrote:
>> Have you asked the maker of the stains
>> if their stuffs may contain arsenic?
>> To me, it would be the first thing to to before
>> incriminating Mason.
>
> I agree 100% with
> Edouard.
>
> No one should level such a huge and damaging
> charge against a manufacturer without giving
> them a chance to provide data.
>
> I have written to the Mason Stain Company
> asking them to comment and will post their reply.
>
> In the meantime lets not jump on the band wagon
> but wait until we get some real info ... not just
> what someone 'thinks'.
>
> I have always found the Mason company to be open
> and very helpful.
>
> Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
>
> Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
> Designs in Colored Porcelain
> 9417 Koupela Drive
> Raleigh NC 27615-2233
>
>
> 919-215-8644
> Fax: 919-676-2062
> www.ccpottery.com
> http://neriagechris.blogspot.com/
>
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
Chris Campbell on wed 23 sep 09
> Just so we are clear, I did not jump
> on the band wagon.
No John, you didn't.
My post was mostly intended to stop
the topic from escalating until we had
some real information
Melinda wrote ...
> That seems to be the assumed culprit of
> my high arsenic levels.
Assumed?
I find it hard to believe that a physician
would make this diagnosis without proof,
so who is doing the assuming?
As a person who has worked with stains
for twenty years, I vote for science here
and hard information, not speculation.
That is why I wrote to the Mason lab to
ask for some info. I too would like to
know the answers.
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
Designs in Colored Porcelain
9417 Koupela Drive
Raleigh NC 27615-2233
919-215-8644
Fax: 919-676-2062
www.ccpottery.com
http://neriagechris.blogspot.com/
Chris Campbell on wed 23 sep 09
This is the reply I received from the lab at Mason:
Mason Color does not intentionally use
Arsenic in our products.
The natural occurrence of this metal in the earth
is something we cannot control.
To protect the consumer we note on our MSDS's
that our products our metal oxides and we rate the
health hazard a 2 which is a Moderate hazard.
Personally, levels of arsenic are in almost if not
everything and the body commands certain levels.
Diets also demand it. Seafood has levels of arsenic.
If Mason Color had reported levels of Arsenic it would
be documented.
I would like to continue this conversation if need be,
I'm very proud of our product and will do anything to
stand by it.
Yours truly
Mike Henderson
Lab Manager
Mason Color
Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
Designs in Colored Porcelain
9417 Koupela Drive
Raleigh NC 27615-2233
919-215-8644
Fax: 919-676-2062
www.ccpottery.com
http://neriagechris.blogspot.com/
Des & Jan Howard on wed 23 sep 09
John
Your post modified.
John Britt wrote:
> Stains contain metal oxides which are dangerous. And when fired they stil=
l
> contain the same metal oxides which are dangerous.
Commercial stains are made of ingredients
some of which can be dangerous.
When made into a stain some of these ingredients are
rendered harmless or at least less dangerous.
> I remember this same admission in David Shaner's Studio Potter article. H=
e
> made colored slips the same way knowing the dangers!
"Ya pays ya money & ya takes ya chances!"
> Maybe you will help someone else to understand that education is importan=
t
> but even more important is to act on that knowledge!
Education is important, but paranoia is pernicious.
> Play it safe boys and girls,
Agreed
--
Des & Jan Howard
Lue Pottery
Lue NSW
Australia
2850
02 6373 6419
www.luepottery.hwy.com.au
-32.656072 149.840624
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