judy motzkin on sun 7 jun 98
Looking for up to date advice regarding respirators. What should we
use for protection when firing in heavy reduction, with wood smoke
laced with salt and copper fumes?
The toxins are giving me concern and a headache.
Judy
jmotzkin@yahoo.com
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Stairs interlog on mon 8 jun 98
At 11:18 AM 6/7/98 -0400, Judy wrote:
>Looking for up to date advice regarding respirators. What should we
>use for protection when firing in heavy reduction, with wood smoke
>laced with salt and copper fumes?
>The toxins are giving me concern and a headache.
....
Hi Judy,
The first advice is... Stay out of the smoke!
Next, you need to consult a specialist supplier of masks and filters.
Smoke contains lots of stuff, and the metals are not the only thing of
concern.
There are federal standards now on the rating of masks and filters. These
are always for periodic, non-continuous exposures. They specify the degree
of reduction of respirable particles and gasses that is claimed for the
given mask/filter combination. None of these masks filter out all the
material. So the first line of defence is simple: don't breathe smoke.
Now, for smoke, you need a filter which reduces CO (carbon monoxide),
volatile hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene, xylene, etc....) and particulates.
The metals will be attenuated by these as well, but if you are particularly
concerned about one in particular, an expert may be able to help you.
Effective masks and filters are quite expensive. Don't buy the cheap one
and expect full protection. It won't work. Buy the mask and filters that
are matched to your exposure, and then minimize that exposure. Get the
mask supplier to explain to you the meaning of the federal rating for the
mask he suggests, and don't accept a brush off: if he doesn't know what
he's talking about, find another supplier who does. Understand that
federal rating yourself: understand what the promise is, and what it means
for your residual exposure. Usually, it simply means, like the UV index on
your suncreme, that you get a fraction of the dose that you otherwise would
for the same time of exposure, or that you can remain in the hazard for a
longer time to get the same dose. If that fraction is 1/10, then you can
be exposed the same amount of time for 1/10 the dose, or remain in the
exposure for 10 times more for the same dose. Suppose you get a headache
coming on after 2 hr of a 20 hr firing. That means that a mask with a
1/10th reduction of risk will let you get to the end of the firing before
you get your headache! But you still get the headache, although perhaps
not as bad.
Effective masks are also uncomfortable. They make it hard to breathe, they
make you (well, me anyway) sweat, and they keep bumping into things. Make
sure you get a mask which fits, and wear it properly, with good skin
adhesion all around. And wear it: it does no good on the shelf.
Filters are expendable. They get filled up with the filtrate, and need to
be replaced. Do this regularly, on the schedule recomended by the vendor.
A used up filter does no good at all. It may even pollute the fresh air,
and increase your dose.
If you are continually breathing kiln smoke, and get headaches from it, why
not try to reduce your exposure by some other means. Perhaps wind breaks,
or a taller chimney, or simply standing (stoking) from a different
position. Don't hang about the kiln when you are not doing something
essential.
That said, I grew up loving the smell of wood smoke in the fireplace,
around the camp fire and the smell of burning leaves in the fall. Still
do. I'd hate to lose that from an excess of kiln smoke.
Gavin
Stephen Mills on mon 8 jun 98
Judy,
My information this side of the pond is that as yet there are no
respirator cartridges capable of dealing with carbon monoxide as it is a
gas, however airborn particles can be filtered out given the right
filter. In a heavy reduction you need the means to change the air in the
kiln room as quickly as possible, this means not just extraction, but
also adequate means of getting air INTO the room. Respirators are not
the answer, Fresh air is.
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , judy motzkin writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>Looking for up to date advice regarding respirators. What should we
>use for protection when firing in heavy reduction, with wood smoke
>laced with salt and copper fumes?
>The toxins are giving me concern and a headache.
>Judy
>jmotzkin@yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
>_________________________________________________________
>DO YOU YAHOO!?
>Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
Cindy on tue 9 jun 98
Judy,
Go to an industrial safety supply store. Most fair-sized towns have one--or
at least one in the nearest larger villa. The consultants you find there
should be well qualified to help you. I know I've found them to be a fine
resource.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels
Custer, SD
USA http://blackhills-info.com/a/cindys/menu.htm
pedresel@3-cities.com on sun 14 jun 98
At 09:39 AM 6-8-98 EDT, Gavin wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
snip... (Good stuff deleted)
>Now, for smoke, you need a filter which reduces CO (carbon monoxide),
>volatile hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene, xylene, etc....) and particulates.
>The metals will be attenuated by these as well, but if you are particularly
>concerned about one in particular, an expert may be able to help you.
>
.... snip (more good stuff deleted)
I suppose some filters might remove carbon monoxide but I kind of doubt you
can get them. More to the point, I'm quite sure no filters will be rated
for removing carbon monoxide because there is no warning property of
cartridge failure. Filters are only appropriate if you can know whether or
not you have breakthrough of contaminants. For carbon monoxide they are
going to want you to use an air supply. What this means is that for all
practical purposes you are going to have to convince yourself that you have
sufficient ventilation to keep CO levels safe.
Not sure if volatile hydrocarbons are a threat here. I'd think not.
Particulates -- absolutely. The nice thing about particle filters is that
they become more efficient (ie clog) with time. If you have to suck really
hard it's time to change the cartridges.
Does anyone on the list use a positive pressure HEPA filter mask like
asbestos workers use? If you are really concerned, that's one think I would
consider.
-- Evan in W. Richland WA. who didn't get to play with the respirators and
airpack this year because he did his Hazardous waste site refresher training
on the computer.
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