Re: selenium risk/REPLY

Imageworkers@eworld.com
Fri, 27 Oct 1995 06:53:02 -0700

The other publication dealing with safety issues specifically for
photographers is _Health Hazards for Photographers_ by Siegfried and Wolfgang
Rempel, Lyons & Burford, 31 W 21 Street NYC 10010, published in 1992. Sig
covers the safety issues of selenium quite well.

He does urge using a mask for mixing the powders, as in from scratch, which
he also recommends NOT doing, and also in case the toner comes in contact
with an acid, such as stop bath, at which time it will release some quite
noxious gases.

I know from other readings that gloves are recommended during toning or other
procedures that necessitate image handling, as it is absorbed through the
skin. One interesting thing is that if you start tasting garlic
continuously, you have selenium poisioning. (Someone correct me on this if
its wrong) A friend of mine contracted selenium poisioning and this
(reportedly) was his main symptom the diagnostician picked up on.

Judy, if you can't find the book I'll gladly photocopy the pages from Sig's
book and send them to you, I think there is about 8 all total.

Roderick Hook
Photographic Archiving, Preservation and Conservation
imageworkers@eWorld.com