Health & Safety in the Arts
A Searchable Database of
Health & Safety Information for Artists


Other Art
ID Other Arts/Crafts Tech Ingestion Haz Inhalation Haz Skin Contact Haz Other Hazards Precautions
1 STAINED GLASS




2 Glass Cutting

Sharp edges can cause cuts Flying chips or glass particles can cause cuts/damage eyes Wear goggles when cutting/grinding glass; handle pieces of glass carefully and grind them smooth w/grinding wheel/sandpaper; wet grind
3 Glass Decoration Silver nitrate mildly corrosive; gamboge highly toxic; hydrofluoric acid can be fatal Lead-based paints highly toxic; cobalt, manganese highly toxic; silver nitrate mildly corrosive; hydrofluoric acid highly toxic Chromium (VI), nickel moderately toxic; hydrofluoric acid highly corrosive; ammonium bifluoride highly toxic Cadmium, chromium (VI), nickel, uranium probable carcinogens; wax fire hazard; ammonium bifluoride highly toxic Avoid lead; use spray booth, w/respirator; wet mop; wear gloves, goggles; don't use hydrofluoric acid; if it's used, do so in lab hood,w/respirator, face shield; flush skin & use Zephiran chloride to immerse area
4 Kiln Firing
Carbon monoxide highly toxic; gases & fumes from firing process may also be toxic
Hot kilns or glass can cause thermal burns Wear leather or other heat-resistant gloves; ventilate kilns w/local exhaust system
5 Glazing Fine lead dust highly toxic; red lead highly toxic; lead can coat work surfaces Fine lead dust highly toxic; red lead highly toxic; lead fumes highly toxic; zinc chloride flux highly toxic; oleic acid fumes moderately toxic Zinc chloride flux moderately corrosive Rosin fluxes can cause asthma; whiting (calcium carbonate) has no significant hazards Replace lead came w/copper foil, zinc came, or other metals; use lead- and antimony-free solders; use local exhaust system, respirator; use oleic acid; wet mop; don't use red lead
6 Antiquing Antimony sulfide highly toxic; copper sulfate highly toxic; selenium dioxide highly toxic Antimony sulfide highly toxic; copper sulfate moderately toxic; selenium dioxide highly toxic Antimony sulfide moderately toxic; copper sulfate slightly toxic; selenium dioxide moderately toxic Selenium dioxide is converted into the highly toxic gas hydrogen selenide when in stomach Wear gloves; wear dust mask; don't eat, drink, smoke in studio; wash hands carefully after work
7 PAPERMAKING Alkaline soda ash, lye highly corrosive Alkaline soda ash, lye highly corrosive; chlorine bleach irritating; pigments can be haz. Wood/plant materials irritating; alkaline soda ash, lye highly corrosive; bleach irritating Chance of trapping hands in blades of beaters; can be noise haz.; electrical haz.; water leaks Identify possible toxic woods/plants in your area; don't boil fibers in alkali; use soda ash instead of lye; wear rubber gloves, protective apron, goggles, face shield; eyewash fountain, shower
8 (Papermaking, continued)



Add alkali slowly to water; don't boil lye; use canopy hood; use ground fault circuit interrupter waterproof floor; have machine guards; wear ear plugs; use blender; use premixed pigments
9 Marbleizing
Pigments haz.
Alum is slight irritant and may cause allergic reactions Use premixed paints/inks when possible; mix powdered pigments inside a glove box
10 LEATHERCRAFT




11 Leather and Tools
Leather dust can result in nasal cavity, sinus, bladder cancer
Cancers are still very rare Cut away from yourself, with your free hand behind the tool; don't try to catch tools that fall; don't allow leather dust to accumulate; wet mop
12 Cementing, Dyeing, and Finishing Denatured alcohol moderately toxic; mineral spirits, turpentine moderately toxic; carbitol moderately toxic Hexane in Rubber Cement (highly toxic); toluene highly toxic; denatured alcohol slightly toxic; min. spirits, turpentine moderately toxic; carbitol slightly toxic Toluene moderately toxic; denatured alcohol slightly toxic; mineral spirits, turpentine moderately toxic; carbitol slightly toxic Denatured alcohol, hexane, toluene flammable; mineral spirits, turpentine combustible Use leather dyes w/ethyl alcohol instead of other solvents; wear gloves; use good ventilation; obey precautions against fire (don't smoke or have open flames), store rags in safety container
13 BONE, SHELL, AND SIMILAR CRAFT MATERIALS




14 Shells
Fine shell dust irritating; mother of pearl dust causes fevers, pneumonia-like disease Eye and hand injuries from flying shell & sharp edges
Use wet grinding & polishing techniques when possible; with dry grinding, wear dust respirator
15 Feathers Napthalene moderately toxic; Para-dichlorobenzene moderately toxic Napthalene moderately toxic; Para-dichlorobenzene highly toxic Napthalene moderately toxic; Para-dichlorobenzene moderately toxic Duck, goose, other feathers' dust causes "Feather-Pickers' Disease"; Para-Dichlorobenzene probable carcinogen Vacuum feathers before working w/them (place them on wire screen and vacuum from below); wear dust mask; air out mothproofed feathers before working w/them; use oil of cedarwood
16 Animal Materials
Dust can cause respiratory irritation; ivory dust causes increased susceptibility to pneumonia; degreasing solvents are haz. Improperly cleaned or raw bones/antlers may cause infections; degreasing solvents are haz. Risk of anthrax; carbon tetrachloride, other chlorinated solvents haz. Degrease raw bones immediately to remove all organic material; don't use highly toxic chlorine solvents; use mineral spirits; wear gloves, use good ventilation, work outdoors; use wet technique; use dust mask






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Disclaimer
This information set forth herein is furnished free of charge and is based on public domain information that is believed to be reliable. The City of Tucson makes no warranty as to the completeness or accuracy thereof. The information is to be used at an individual's own risk.
This web site is sponsored by the City of Tucson's Environmental Management Division through an Environmental Justice Grant.

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