From: Linda Phillips (linda__phillips@hotmail.com)
Date: 05/02/00-09:46:10 PM Z
Thanks, Garimo, for doing this research. I realize (sheepishly) that I
should have done it myself before I went off half-cocked and started
criticizing people for their actions. It is comforting to know that I can
relax some of my stringent safety practices.
How did these rumours of dichromate hazards get started, anyway? Urban
legend? Well, that's the last time I ever fall for THAT one. MSDS indeed!
>From: garimo <omirag@cruzio.com>
>Reply-To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
>To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca, alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
>Subject: Re: Dichromate Hazards - Thanks!
>Date: Tue, 02 May 2000 11:21:10 -0700 (PDT)
>
>After rereading the article on photochemiclas and septic tanks in the
>March/April issue of PHOTO Techniques(USA), I spent almost two hours
>last night surfing the web sites listed as references and the site of
>the EPA <www.epa.gov/> and now I have even less fears about any wash
>water that may go down a drain from some gum printer, (before I knew
>nothing). I learned intresting things like EDTA is used in fertilizers
>as a source of soluble iron... I learned there are two chromiums that
>should not be confused in discussions... Chromium III=good, Chromium
>IV=bad... Chromium III and other minerals are often naturally acurring
>in aquifers and are essential for biological metabolism at low
>concentrations. I read Chromium IV is a known carcinogen when inhaled,
>and the epa reports say that research on ingestion is unavailable. I
>read the body does have some mechanism to convert small amounts of
>Chromium IV into Chromium III and even some ground formations filter
>ChromiumIV before any contamination reaches the aquifer, but then
>these studies have only been conducted near factories that use large
>amounts of chromium in their industries...e.g. steel making, chrome
>plating, tanneries... I read little or no concerns about photo use
>except that of toners for copy machines and pigments and dyes for
>paints and textiles.
> I learned that chromiums surrounds me continuously in my everyday
>life, from when I put on my work gloves, to when I use a pressure
>treated fence post, or when I measure the length of a board with my
>chrome plated stanley tape measure, it's in the water I drink, and the
>food I eat...and my body thrives because of it. There is no possibility
>for me to escape it if I tried, AND I don't want it in the air I
>breath... But like I wouldn't want to ingest a large concentration of
>aspirin for a headache... I'll do my best to avoid large concentrations
>of all other chemicals as well.
>
> But here's a site that may be for some, it seems to be a magical
>disposal system, but I tend to be skeptical of product claims made on
>the internet, but it may be just the thing every darkroom should have,
>I might get one as I sometimes use the t-max reversal kit that has
>permangante bleach with manganese and maybe then I'll start to use some
>toners at home instead of in the school
>lab...<http://www.njefferson.com/chemgon.htm> if anyone has ever used
>on of these things, I'd like to hear their value judgments of it.
> well I'm off...I gotta' go put my chromium gloves to work!
>garimo
>
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