will edwards on sun 22 oct 00
It is something to ponder when we all have so many opinions on so many
subjects regarding health. Many of them are based on pre-concieved ideas
because we are a society that hears more and more relating to chemicals a=
nd
changes in enviroment!
The Earth has an abundance of SiO2 60+ % of the crust is made up of such
materials. Then we have the addition of all those decaying minerals to su=
pport
the needs of our glazes and clays we make. (Calcium, etc..)
I think that reasonable precautions are expected (Should be)more so than
fearful expressions of our materials use.
I recently talked to an attorney that told me in the cases he had worked =
those
who have really had a problem with things such as those we have spoke of,=
more
times than not were smokers. That suggests to me a compromized immune sys=
tem!
A NIOSH approved respirator and good gloves and careful handling of our
materials should eliminate most of those fearful things in standard marke=
ted
materials such as ball clay and free silica.
PCB's are produced via an electro-magnetic field isn't it? Such as what i=
s
found in transformer oils, etc.(Someone may have mixed up PCB for PVC?)
Dioxins - Dioxin is formed by burning chlorine-based chemical compounds w=
ith
hydrocarbons. The major source of dioxin in the environment (95%) comes f=
rom
incinerators burning chlorinated wastes. Dioxin pollution is also affilia=
ted
with paper mills which use chlorine bleaching in their process and with t=
he
production of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastics. =
The saddest part of all this is how much damage we are doing to the Earth=
as a
whole and the oceans. Waste not, want not! But all we can do is make cert=
ain
we don't invite trouble and follow carefully the multiple choices we have=
for
personal safety. Teach your potters and students these meaures without al=
arm
but with intention as if their life depended on it.
William Edwards
____________________________________________________________________
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