ACTSNYC@CS.COM on thu 29 mar 01
> -------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 09:41:19 -0500
> From: Bruce Girrell
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: Ball/dioxin? help me
>
> > According to EPA (David Cleverly, Washington DC),
> > as published in CM, January issue, page 8, dioxin-containing
> > ball clays may be used safely:" The good news is that once the
> > ball clay has been commercially processed in a kiln before it is sold
> > to potters, all the dioxin is removed. We have verified this in EPA's
> > laboratories. So you can rest easy and continue making great art out
> > of ball clay."
>
> The above statement is undoubtedly true, because the dioxins will burn off
> in the firing. The only problem with this is that dioxins are not really
> dangerous _until incinerated_.
Nonsense. Remember how they discovered this problem in the first place? The
ball clays were used in small amounts as anti-caking agents on chicken and
farm raised catfish food and the dioxins were found at unacceptable levels in
the meat.
So whether you ingest the clay, or you inhale it first as a dust and then
ingest it from the lung clearing mechanisms is irrelevant. You will raise
your body burden of dioxins if you ingest or inhale the dust containing the
dioxins.
And if the tiniest particles of clay carrying the dioxin get into the alveoli
and remain in the lungs--this is not a good scenario either.
>
> Stay away from the kikn exhaust. <
Obviously you should stay away from the clay dust, too! And this is
essentially impossible.
David Cleverly's statement that the clay was safe was based on the assumption
that the clays being sold to potters had been prefired to reduce sulfur
content and the LOI. And this is often the case with high sulfur clays, it
is not usually the case with OM ball clays.
Clayarters have contacted David Cleverly before. It is time to do it
again--I'm leaving really desperately busy and on the road most of the time.
Ask Mr. Cleverly why the dioxin warning is on this bag. And remind him that
potters like you order RAW materials, not the premixed clay stuff sold as a
consumer product for kids. And that as far as you know, the clay you use has
not been prefired.
>
> > So, go figure why they printed this on the bag.
>
> My guess is that they were required to. <
Me, too.
Monona Rossol
ACTS
181 Thompson St., #23
NYC NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
ACTSNYC@cs.com
answering:
> Bruce "burned up" Girrell
> _______________________________________________________________
ACTSNYC@CS.COM on thu 29 mar 01
In a message dated 3/29/01 1:00:17 PM Eastern Standard Time,
eiblodge@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca writes:
> -------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 08:15:35 -0600
> From: Tom Wirt/Betsy Price
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: Ball/dioxin? help me
>
> From: "Edouard Bastarache" > help me
>
> > According to EPA (David Cleverly, Washington DC),
> > as published in CM, January issue, page 8, dioxin-containing
> > ball clays may be used safely:" The good news is that once the
> > ball clay has been commercially processed in a kiln before it is
> sold
>
> Edouard (or others)....this one puzzled me when I read it. To my
> knowledge, most ball clays, other than those used as grogs or calcined
> products, are never put through a kiln. Crushed, screened, air
> floated, but not fired. Firing to the point of dehydrolization (is
> that the correct word?) would render them non plastic. So if they are
> basing the non-dioxin statement on the firing aspect, then it wouldn't
> be until we were done with it.
>
> I'm not looking for dioxins, but government agencies have a way of not
> understanding processes and basing their decisions on that
> non-understanding.
Oh, you are so smart! That's just exactly the point. I was almost certain
when that statement was made that he was assuming that the clays were
prefired before being sent out to consumers and potters. And before you
condemn Cleverly too hard, it just might be that the clay companies wanted
him to think this as well.
Some clays like Jordan that are high sulfur are prefired. I remember once
getting a batch that had not been prefired and it ruined a whole kiln load.
But, like you, I see no reason to prefire OM4.
Monona Rossol
ACTS
181 Thompson St., #23
NYC NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
ACTSNYC@cs.com
answering:
> Tom Wirt
> ____
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