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


Photography Techniques
ID Photography Tech Ingestion Haz Inhalation Haz Skin Contact Haz Other Hazards Precautions
1 BLACK & WHITE PHOTO PROCESSING




2 Mixing Photochemicals Glacial acetic acid corrosive; developing powders extremely toxic Glacial acetic acid corrosive; developing powders highly toxic Glacial acetic acid corrosive; developing powders moderately toxic Solutions/powders highly alkaline Use liquid solutions; use glove box, ventilation, respirator; wear gloves, goggles, apron; eyewash fountain, shower should be available; store acids on low shelves; don't store in glass containers; label carefully
3 Developing Baths Developers moderately toxic to highly toxic; Para-phenyl diamine highly toxic; sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate highly corrosive; potassium bromide moderately toxic; sodium sulfite moderately toxic Developers moderately toxic to highly toxic; Para-phenylene diamine highly toxic; potassium bromide moderately toxic; sodium sulfite moderately toxic (can form sulfur dioxide [highly irritating]) Developers irritating; Para-phenylene diamine highly toxic; sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate highly corrosive; potassium bromide moderately toxic Eye injury can result; Hydroquinone mutagen Don't put bare hands into developer baths; use tongs instead; if developer solution splashes onto skin or in eyes, rinse immediately w/lots of water; for eyes, continue rinsing for 15-20 minutes; have eyewash fountain; DON'T USE para-phenylene diamine
4 Stop Baths & Fixer Acetic acid highly toxic; sodium thiosulfate highly toxic; boric acid moderately toxic Acetic acid highly toxic; potassium chrome alum highly toxic; sodium thiosulfate highly toxic; boric acid moderately toxic Acetic acid highly toxic; final stop bath slightly toxic; potassium chrome alum highly toxic; alum slightly toxic; boric acid slightly toxic
All darkrooms need good ventilation; 10 air changes per hour, or 170 cfm; exhaust duct opening should be behind and above stop bath & fixer trays; wear gloves and goggles; cover all baths when not in use
5 Intensifiers & Reducers Mercury extremely toxic; sodium/potassium cyanide extremely toxic Potassium chlorochromate highly toxic if heated or if acid added; mercury highly toxic; sodium/potassium cyanide extremely toxic; potassium ferricyanide highly toxic if heated Potassium dichromate & chlorochromate irritating; hydrochloric acid corrosive; mercury moderately toxic; sodium/potassium cyanide moderately toxic Potassium dichromate & chlorochromate probable carcinogen; uranium intensifiers radioactive; potassium permanganate, ammonium persulfate may cause fires Chromium intensifiers least toxic, although probable carcinogen; wear gloves/goggles/respirator; use glove box; don't expose potassium chlorochromate to acid or heat; DON'T USE mercury, cyanide or uranium intensifiers/reducers; safest reducer is Farmer's
6 Toners
Sodium/Potassium sulfide release highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas; selenium gives off sulfur dioxide, hydrogen selenide gas (highly toxic) Selenium irritating; gold, platinum salts strong sensitizers Thiourea probable carcinogen Wear gloves, goggles, respirator; mix powders in glove box; use ventilation; make sure that sulfide or selenium toners aren't contaminated w/acids; rinse prints well between bleaching & developing; AVOID thiourea whenever possible
7 Other Black-and-White Chemicals Concentrated sulfuric acid, mixed w/potassium permanganate or potassium dichromate highly corrosive Hypochlorite bleaches can release highly toxic chlorine gas when heated/acid added Concentrated sulfuric acid, mixed w/potassium permanganate or potassium dichromate highly corrosive; potassium persulfate, other oxidizing agents irritating Potassium persulfate, other oxidizing agents may cause fires Wear gloves, goggles, and acid-proof apron; make sure acid always added to water when diluting; don't add acid to, or heat, hypochlorite bleaches; keep potassium persulfate away from flammable substances; install ground fault interrupters
8 COLOR PROCESSING




9 Developing Baths Para-phenylene diamine, dimethyl, diethyl derivatives highly toxic Para-phenylene diamine, dimethyl, diethyl derivatives highly toxic, amines strongly irritating; solvents haz. Para-phenylene diamine, dimethyl, diethyl derivatives highly toxic; amines strongly irritating; solvents haz.
Wear gloves, goggles, respirator; wash gloves w/acid-type hand cleaner & water before removing them; barrier creams don't work; mix powders in glove box; use exhaust hood, ducted to the outside
10 Bleaching, Fixing, and Other Steps Formaldehyde highly toxic; methanol highly toxic; succinaldehyde highly toxic; concentrated acids corrosive Formaldehyde highly toxic; succinaldehyde highly toxic; concentrated acids corrosive; acid solutions w/sulfites or bisulfites release toxic sulfur dioxide; hydrogen cyanide gas toxic Formaldehyde moderately toxic; succinaldehyde moderately toxic; hydroxylamine sulfate irritating; concentrated acids corrosive Formaldehyde probable carcinogen; hydroxylamine sulfate teratogen Use ventilation/respirator/gloves/goggles/apron; mix in glove box; avoid formaldehyde; add acid to water; eyewash & shower available; have water rinse step between bleach & fixing steps; don't add acid to potassium ferricyanide/thiocyanate
11 Color Retouching Formaldehyde highly toxic; methanol highly toxic; aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, xylene) moderately toxic Airbrushing haz.; formaldehyde highly toxic; potassium permanganate irritating; aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, xylene) highly toxic Formaldehyde moderately toxic; potassium permanganate irritating; aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, xylene) highly toxic Little is known about haz. of dyes; formaldehyde probable carcinogen. Swab/brush dyes; airbrush in spray booth; wear respirator; use exhaust fan; avoid formaldehyde; don't point brushes/wet pencils w/lips; use window exhaust fan w/aromatic hydrocarbons
12 OTHER PHOTO PROCESSES




13 Cyanotype (blueprinting) Ferric ammonium citrate, potassium ferricyanide moderately toxic; diluted hydrogen peroxide slightly toxic Ferric ammonium citrate, potassium ferricyanide slightly toxic; potassium dichromate haz.; carbon arc fumes highly toxic Ferric ammonium citrate, potassium ferricyanide slightly toxic; potassium dichromate haz.; diluted hydrogen peroxide slightly toxic Potassium ferricyanide releases hydrogen cyanide gas; potassium dichromate possible carcinogen; carbon arcs release uv radiation Don't use carbon arcs unless directly vented to outside; wear goggles w/shade #14; use sunlamp, sunlight, or other light source; use hydrogen peroxide to fix image
14 Van Dyke Process (brown printing) Silver nitrate highly toxic; sodium potassium tartrate, ferric ammonium citrate moderately toxic; sodium thiosulfate moderately toxic Silver nitrate moderately corrosive; sodium potassium tartrate, ferric ammonium citrate slightly toxic; gold chloride moderately toxic; sodium thiosulfate moderately toxic; carbon arc fumes highly toxic Silver nitrate moderately corrosive; sodium potassium tartrate, ferric ammonium citrate slightly toxic; gold chloride moderately toxic Carbon arcs produce uv radiation; old solutions of hypo produce highly toxic sulfur dioxide gas Wear gloves, goggles, goggles w/shade #14; don't spray silver nitrate; don't store hypo solutions for long time, and keep them covered; use w/general/local exhaust ventilation; don't use carbon arcs unless vented to outside
15 Platinum and Palladium Printing Platinum salts moderately irritating; oxalic acid, oxalate salts corrosive Platinum salts highly irritating; gold salts irritating; mercury, lead, uranium highly toxic; oxalic acid, oxalate salts corrosive; hydrochloric acid corrosive; chlorine gas highly toxic Platinum salts moderately irritating; gold salts irritating; mercuric chloride corrosive; oxalic acid, oxalate salts corrosive; hydrochloric acid corrosive Platinum/palladium use variety of toxic metals, corrosive acids, oxalate salts; potassium chlorate can cause fires Buy only liquid solutions; mix in lab hood/glove box; wear respirator, gloves, goggles, protective apron; avoid uranium, mercury, lead; use local exhaust ventilation; store potassium chlorate away from solvents; use emergency shower, eyewash fountain






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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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