L. P. Skeen on wed 26 mar 03
Since December, most of the clay in my studio has paper in it. The =
paper comes from two sources:
1. A weird batch of custom-blended paperclay made with the patented (or =
copyrighted?) pulp recipe from Rosette Gault. The batch is weird =
because there is about 2x the amount of paper the recipe called for. =
Long story, don't ask.
2. A paperclay made by Axner called "Bob's Paperclay", which I =
understand is also made with the Gault pulp.
Both these clays are bagged as usual in plastic bags and stored in the =
boxes they were shipped in. The weird batch has to be mixed with =
paper-free clay (for this writing I'll call the resulting clay Recycled) =
in order to be used. The clays as they are bagged HAVE developed mold =
on the outsides of the pugs. There is no visible mold on the freshly =
cut sides of pug chunks. The recycled clay is the same - mold on =
outside of pugs, but not visible in fresh cuts. NEITHER TYPE of =
paperclay has developed a smell at this point.
My theory on this is that the mold is growing on parts of the clay that =
are exposed to air. =20
If I cut a chunk off, seal the bag up and leave it for a few days, mold =
grows on the cut side.
I don't have any way to find out if the mold growing on this stuff is =
dangerous. There are apparently different types, or something, because =
the molds are different colors - some gray/green, some black, some =
white. If one is allergic to molds, one should prolly NOT use =
paperclay. I don't have a documented allergy to molds, but am =
experiencing the following weird symptoms and the ONLY thing I've =
changed or introduced to the environment recently has been paperclay:
1. Red rash under both eyes, patches about the size of a nickel. =20
2. When I'm using the clay, the outside of my nose itches like crazy =
sometimes. =20
3. A couple of fingers on both hands have developed some weird =
symptoms. Both pinkies have dried and cracked on the ends, can't get =
them to heal. One nail seems to be disappearing. A couple of other =
fingers have dry nails.
So, is paperclay dangerous? No idea; this stuff could be caused by the =
weird iron-heavy water at the studio, but it din't start until after I =
got the paperclay. Go figure. =20
A question I have for other paperclay folks is, how long have you stored =
WET paperclay and still used it? Another clayart person expressed =
concern to me offlist about the paper rotting before he could use up all =
the pclay......I hadn't even THOUGHT of that until he said it.
L
L. P. Skeen www.living-tree.net
Living Tree Pottery, Summerfield, NC
Get your copy of the 2003 Clay Lover's Calendar
at my website above! :)
Working Potter on thu 27 mar 03
I would suggest a trip to a dermatologist is in order.
Misty
In a message dated 3/26/2003 11:50:17 PM Eastern Standard Time,
lpskeen@LIVING-TREE.NET writes:
> to molds, but am experiencing the following weird symptoms and the ONLY
> thing I've changed or introduced to the environment recently has been
> paperclay:
>
> 1. Red rash under both eyes, patches about the size of a nickel.
> 2. When I'm using the clay, the outside of my nose itches like crazy
> sometimes.
> 3. A couple of fingers on both hands have developed some weird symptoms.
> Both pinkies have dried and cracked on the ends, can't get them to heal.
> One nail seems to be disappearing. A couple of other fingers have dry
> nails.
>
> So, is paperclay dangerous? No idea; this stuff could be caused by the
> weird iron-heavy water at the studio, but it din't start until after I got
> the paperclay. Go figure.
>
> A question I have for other paperclay folks is, how long have you stored
> WET paperclay and still used it? Another clayart person expressed concern
> to me offlist about the paper rotting before he could use up all the
> pclay......I hadn't even THOUGHT of that until he said it.
>
>
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