Silicosis from pottery [compiled: 2006.9.27]

• Chronic. Chronic silicosis may take 15 or more years of exposure to develop
  . There is only mild impairment of lung functioning
  . the most common form of the disease, it may go undetected for years in the early stages;
  in fact, a chest X-ray may not reveal an abnormality until after 15 or 20 years of exposure;
  it usually occurs after 10 or more years of overexposure.
  . The body's ability to fight infections may be overwhelmed by silica dust in the lungs,
  making workers more susceptible to certain illnesses, such as tuberculosis
  . Chronic silicosis may progress to more advanced forms.
  .
• Accelerated.
  This form of silicosis appears after 5-10 years of intense exposure
  . The symptoms are similar to those of complicated silicosis,
  in which patients with complicated silicosis have
  noticeable shortness of breath
  , weight loss
  , and extensive formation of fibrous tissue (fibrosis) in the lungs
  . These patients are at risk for developing tuberculosis (TB)
  and often develop rheumatoid arthritis
  and other autoimmune disorders .
  
  
• Acute. Acute silicosis develops within six months to two years
  of intense exposure to silica
  . The patient loses a great deal of weight [the nausea only happens when you eat!]
  and is constantly short of breath [lips and fingernails appear blue]
  . These patients are at severe risk of TB
  Acute silicosis occurs where exposures are the highest
  and can cause symptoms to develop within a few weeks or up to 5 years.
  

How Can Silicosis Be Prevented?

Causes & symptoms

The precise mechanism that triggers the development of silicosis is
the body`s response to particles of respirable silica dust getting trapped
deep within the lungs, in tiny sacs (alveoli)
[ where the bronchiole meets the cappilary blood vessels ],
and air exchange takes place,
. white blood cells (macrophages) in the alveoli ingest the silica and die
. The resulting inflammation attracts other macrophages to the region
. The [characteristic] nodule is formed
[because] the immune system`s activity has created
so much fibrous [scar] tissue [as to] seal off the alveoli
. The disease process may stop at this point,
or speed up and destroy large areas of the lung
. The fibrosis may continue even after the worker is no longer exposed to silica
[ since the cause is from the immune system`s hypervigilance against
unmovable mineral deposits
and their support of equally unmovable bacterial infections ]

Have Silicosis?

Symptom management

There is no cure for silicosis
. Therapy is intended to relieve symptoms, treat complications, and prevent respiratory infections
. It includes careful monitoring for signs of TB
. Respiratory symptoms may be treated with bronchodilators, increased fluid intake,
steam inhalation, and physical therapy
. Patients with severe breathing difficulties may be given oxygen therapy
or placed on a mechanical ventilator
. Acute silicosis may progress to complete respiratory failure:
  Heart-lung transplants are the only hope for some patients.

Patients with silicosis should be advised to quit smoking,
prevent infections by avoiding crowds and persons with colds or similar infections,
and receive vaccinations against influenza and pneumonia
. They should be encouraged to increase their exercise capacity
by keeping up regular activity,
and to learn to pace themselves with their daily routine.

  Taking the right precautions in your pottery production facility
can help ensure the long-term health and safety
of you and your employees.  By Christine L. Grahl 2004

Personal Protective Equipment According to Zamek, a respirator, safety glasses or goggles, and protective gloves are basic pieces of safety equipment that should be found in every pottery studio, no matter how small. "There's not a lot of expense associated with these items-the equipment is low-cost and can be implemented immediately, whether there is just one person in the studio, or five or 10," he says. Although Zamek believes that ceramic materials themselves are not inherently dangerous, he points out that many airborne particles and vapors can cause respiratory irritation and eventual illness if they are inhaled at high concentrations and/or over long periods of time. The best approach is to control these materials and vapors at the source, before they enter the studio, but this isn't always feasible. To be on the safe side, Zamek advises that potters should wear a respirator whenever mixing clays or glazes, working in or walking through dry material storage areas, cleaning kiln shelves or cleaning the studio.1 Safety glasses and goggles can protect against airborne particles and debris, and infrared varieties can also shield potters' eyes from ultraviolet and infrared radiation when looking into a firing kiln. Rubber or latex gloves can be worn to protect against skin irritants when handling dry or wet raw materials. More important, however, are the heavy-duty, heat-protective gloves used to prevent burns and cuts on potters' hands and arms. "Cuts and burns from reaching into the kiln when it's too hot or when a glaze is razor sharp are some of the most common injuries experienced by potters, yet they can easily be avoided," Zamek says.

Spray Booths Any studio or production facility that sprays its glazes should also be equipped with spray booths. These devices capture the excess glaze material and prevent them from entering the facility. Many spray booths can also be set up to reclaim the excess glaze and minimize waste. "It's not enough just to get the excess glaze out of your studio; you have to contain it," says Joe Koons, senior technical advisor for Laguna Clay Co. in City of Industry, Calif., and a longtime ceramic artist and tile maker. "Overspray can easily be 1/4 to 1/2 of the amount of glaze actually sprayed on a piece, which is a tremendous amount of waste. A well designed spray booth is highly efficient, and the amount of glaze it recovers can easily and quickly offset the initial cost of the equipment." Koons advises that potters look for a system that maximizes glaze recovery while minimizing maintenance and cleaning requirements. "Cleanliness is everything-it is directly related to your profits because it helps you avoid color contamination when working with different colors, and it also aids in glaze recovery. Start with a clean spray booth and clean up when finished, and use a different filter for each color," he says.

Kiln Venting Systems Kiln venting systems are another way to ensure a healthy indoor environment. "Apart from the sometimes objectionable smell encountered in the first stages of a kiln firing, there can be several potentially harmful emissions released when clay and glaze materials are heated," says Zamek. "Kiln exhaust fumes can release volatile metals and fluorides from clay and glaze raw materials. During the firing, carbon monoxide is also produced and may be generated at higher levels than recommended government Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standards."2 Kiln venting systems protect potters against these substances by removing them from the studio. Some systems use an adjustable vent mounted over the top of the kiln, which can be raised and lowered as needed to simplify kiln loading and unloading. Others systems pull fumes out from the bottom of the kiln and allow fresh air to enter from the top of the kiln to ensure even heat distribution. Which design is better? "A very useful tool in making a decision is to call the kiln vent manufacturer or the ceramics supplier who sells the product and ask for the phone numbers of customers who have purchased a kiln venting system in your area," Zamek says. "Most potters will gladly tell you the good and any deficient points of the venting system they purchased. Ask to visit their studios to see the kiln vent in operation."3

Air Filters/Purifiers The last several years have seen a significant increase in the number air filtration systems and air purifiers that have come on the market, many of which claim to dramatically reduce the concentration of silica dust and other particulates in a ceramic production facility. But is such a precaution necessary, especially if employees are already wearing respirators during dust-generating operations? Zamek doesn't think so. "Unfortunately, many people don't know enough about ceramic toxicology, and they easily become scared by reports about certain exposures and hazards that are based on extrapolations of industrial exposures to these materials over long durations in fields such as silica mining. But there is very little data and few health studies available on how potters use ceramic raw materials, or their relative risk," he says. "If potters want to err on the side of caution and invest extra money in an air filtration or purification unit for their studios, they certainly can, but in most cases it's statistically and anecdotally unnecessary." Doug Van Sickle of Van Sickle Environmental Systems, Sherman Oaks, Calif., who has been a studio potter for nearly 30 years, disagrees. "Exposure to silica dust is cumulative, and a respirator simply can't provide enough protection," he says. "I've seen many people mix glaze in the same room where they handle their other processes, and then take their respirator off after the glaze has been mixed into the water. But the dust is still in the room, so they'll be breathing that in. Dust is also created when you're sweeping the floor, or even just trimming, and many people don't adequately protect themselves during these operations. Using an air purifier can remove silica and particulate matter from the facility, and can significantly reduce the level of risk." According to Van Sickle, almost all suspended particulate matter in the air has a positive static electric charge and, due to its extremely minute size, remains in the air for five to six hours. A single purifier unit generates billions of negative ions that attract these positively charged particles, regardless of their size. These particles clump together until they have sufficient weight to fall from the air, where they can be sponged or wet-mopped away. Another air-cleaning option is ambient-air filtration, whereby all of the air in a room circulates through one or more filters that collect the dust particles. According to Dave Bubb, director of representative sales for Trion Inc., Sanford, N.C., the drawback to an ambient-air system is that the dust must first become airborne. "This means that workers can be exposed to the dust before it gets to the air cleaner, and you never get 100% or even near perfect collection, because you're always adding dust to the space. But you can significantly reduce the amount of dust in the air by 60-90% or more with these systems," Bubb says. An even better option is source control, in which dust collection systems are placed near the process and collect the dust at the source, before it becomes airborne in the facility. However, Bubb notes that such systems can be impractical due to space or operation constraints.

Common Sense According to Zamek, the most common injuries that affect potters-carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive activities such as wedging, back pain from improper lifting, and cuts and burns-have less to do with protective equipment than they do with simply using common sense. "If you're wedging clay or throwing, take frequent breaks. Don't wedge up 50 pieces of clay at a time; wedge up 20 and then do something else and come back to wedging later," he advises. "Alter your work cycle so you're not getting into a situation where you're repetitively doing something for over an hour. If you're lifting kiln shelves, make sure you're lifting them correctly to avoid back injuries. If you're reaching into the kiln, wear protective gloves to avoid cuts or burns." Zamek also advises that potters request material safety data sheets (MSDSs) on all materials used in their studios, and notes that any company would be wise to compile a "safety booklet" that is required reading for all new employees. "Avoiding problems is largely a matter of common sense-it's deceptively simple," Zamek says. Safety  Jeff Zamek` Respirators for Potters When sweeping the studio, every potter at some point wonders, "What should I do to protect myself from the clay dust?" Imagine what's floating around in your studio when walking or sweeping up at the end of the day. On days when direct sunlight enters the studio, it's possible to see raw materials and clay dust in the air; but it's the stuff you can't see that's the problem. Clay is a very small hexagonal-plate-shaped particle material and can range from 100 microns (µ) to 0.1µ in size depending on the specific type of clay. (A micron is 1/1000 of an inch.) Potentially, the most hazardous particle sizes are below 10 microns, and potters should try to cut down the inhalation of particles to safe levels. Respirators are very effective at blocking particles, but no respirator is 100% efficient at blocking all particle sizes. Particles in the 0.3-micron range can zigzag through a filter (even though some get trapped) so that a percentage can pass through the respirator, while larger-size particles travel in a straight line and get trapped. A safe and conservative approach goes a long way in protecting yourself from airborne particles-both visible and invisible. Fortunately, this area of studio safety has been thoroughly researched by industry, and potters can take advantage of the latest array of respirators. Respirator Filters Every respirator has some type of filter to trap particles. One of the most effective filters is a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. They were developed more than thirty years ago by the Hepa Corporation. The name has since become generic and many companies now produce this classification of filters. For many years, HEPA filters have been the standard for the industry. They have a 99.97% efficiency rating, which means they filter 99.97% of solid particles down to a 0.3-micron size. Some particles at 0.3 microns do not have enough weight to go through the filter, while particles bigger than 0.3 microns have a larger mass, causing them to travel with greater velocity to the filter. HEPA-type filters are recommended whenever heavy metals, such as, chrome, cadmium, vanadium and cobalt are in the work environment. Respirator Maintenance The industry standard (though seemingly inexact) for changing filters occurs when any or all of the 3 D's are encountered-Damage to the respirator, Dirty respirators or Difficulty breathing through the respirator. While dirty and damaged respirators are self-explanatory, the difficult breathing requires some explanation. As particles contact the respirator during use and penetrate below the outer surface of the filter, some filter holes are closed, causing a caking effect to occur. This results in the filter becoming more effective in that an increased amount of holes are plugged by the incoming particles. However, at some point the heightened resistance needed to breathe causes unfiltered air to be drawn through the point of least resistance on the mask seal. Before this state is reached, the filter should be discarded. If It Fits ... Fit is one of the most important considerations when choosing any respirator, and two factors are essential when placing a respirator on your face. A complete seal around the face is critical in allowing no secondary air to bypass the filter. Make sure the mask conforms to your face so no outside air is drawn in while breathing. Men with beards must ensure that the mask forms an unbroken seal around their face; otherwise, shaving the area is required. The second factor is the comfort of the mask. If the particular mask is uncomfortable or heavy, and it isn't worn on the required occasions, it offers no protection. Two of the respirators I tested-the Willson Freedom® 2000 Series and Willson Valuair® Plus-come with diagrams and instructions on how to wear the masks, and informative videos were also available. The instructions on use and fit for the 3M 8210, 3M 8110S and 3M 8233 N100 are available from the dealer or by calling the 3M technical service number. Respirators with higher efficiency (99.97% efficiency) filters can cause greater resistance when breathing due to the use of finer filtering materials. High-efficiency units have an exhalation valve in front to allow for easier breathing. Willson™ Freedom® 2000 Series Disposable Respirator The distinctive feature of this respirator is the simple straightforward design and its light weight on the face. It can be purchased in three face-piece sizes for an exact airtight fit on the face, which is a critical factor in any respirator design. The unit has an excellent P100 filter that is 99.97% effective in trapping particles down to .3 microns in size. This is the highest rating by NIOSH standards. The mask allows for eye wear and feels comfortable when I swept the studio or mixed dry glazes. However, the inability to replace the filter would be a major drawback if the potter was considering it for daily use in the studio. Replacing the entire mask and filter each time would be costly. Retail price $18.55. (Source: Willson Division of WGM Safety Corporation, product information Form No. 9121C.) Willson™ Valuair® Plus Reusable Respirator The easily replaceable filter extends the service life of this unit, which is a major benefit. The filter cartridges are the same ones used in the Willson Freedom 2000 series masks (P100). It also has a soft pliable face piece with adjustable straps to fit almost any face contour. From the first time I used it in my studio, it was very comfortable and there was low breathing resistance upon inhaling. Wearing eyeglasses does not prevent the mask from fitting your face. I would highly recommend the respirator for ceramics supply companies' clay mixing operations. It can also function well in situations where there is heavy-duty prolonged dry raw materials mixing in the studio. Retail price $21.20. (Source: Willson Division of WGM Safety Corporation, product information Form No. 9601.) 3M™ 8210 and 3M 8110S N95 (smaller size) Commonly referred to as a paper dust mask this is a very lightweight filter that can be custom fit by a thin metal band on the upper part of the mask. The electrostatically charged micromedia fiber attracts and holds airborne particles. Two elastic straps on each side of the mask hold it firmly against the face for an effective seal. I found the mask easy to use and lightweight on my face. The respirator was very comfortable when wearing glasses and as an added benefit had no parts to clean. It is low priced which makes for reasonable replacement costs. Studies have proven this mask to be just as effective as rubber face piece respirators. I would buy a box of the masks and replace them regularly (see Respirator Maintenance). It is rated at 95% filtration efficiency, which means the mask stopped 95% of the particles down to a 0.3 micron size. It can filter cobalt, copper, chrome, iron oxide, silica and manganese. I would recommend the 3M 8210 and 3M 8110S N95 as low-cost effective masks for dry materials encountered in the pottery studio. Retail price @ $.78 cents, box of 20 $15.67. (Source: 3M Product information sheet #3044.) 3M 8233 N100 Particulate Respirator This is a paper dust mask made from advanced electrostatically charged micromedia fibers. It has fully adjustable straps for a secure soft fit on the face. Also incorporated into the mask is a one-way cool flow valve that makes breathing easier through the finer mesh filter. Its efficiency is 99.97%, making it one of NIOSH's highest-rated filters. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) recommends this type of respirator in situations where lead, cadmium, and arsenic are in the workplace. This mask would function well when mixing dry glaze materials that contain cobalt, copper, chrome, iron oxide, silica, and manganese. The higher efficiency rating and high cost per mask is not required for protection against other ceramic raw materials. It could be used in ceramics supply companies' clay mixing operations where exposure and concentration levels would presumably be higher than in a pottery studio. I would use this respirator only if lead, cadmium, or arsenic were present in the studio. Retail price @ $6.03, box of 20, $120.60. (Source: 3M Product information sheet #3094.) New Standards In July 1998, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) fully implemented new standards for all respirators (Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, part 84, referred to as "42 CFR 84"). These new respirator specifications were designed for higher levels of protection against particulate hazards in the workplace. Respirators sold after July 1998 must comply to the new standard and "42 CFR 84" must be conspicuously displayed on the respirator package. In addition to the part 84 particulate requirements, buyers must be aware that respirators are rated and designated for other factors (i.e., N=no oil in environment, R=oil resistant, and P=oil proof). Potters typically need respirators labeled N95 (no oil and 95% efficient) or N100 (no oil and 99.97% efficient), but ratings of R95, R100, P95 or P100 would also be sufficient. Recommendation For protection against airborne particles found in the pottery studio, the 3M 8210 and 3M 8110 S N95 respirators were my first choice. All the respirators tested would meet the requirements of potters, but the 3M respirators were lighter in weight, easily replaceable and comfortable. I do not think the 99.97% vs. 95% efficiency respirators would offer a much greater degree of protection for the materials found in pottery studios or commercial clay mixing operations. When purchasing any respirator, look for the new NIOSH codes. And always carefully read the instructions on maintenance and use of any respirator purchased, as there can be differences between each model and brand. Summary Most pottery studios and commercial clay mixing operations will require an N95 respirator or an N100 respirator. All the respirators evaluated would meet and exceed the respirator safety requirements of the studio potter. In addition, all units could be used in industrial applications where higher levels and longer exposure rates would be expected as compared with a pottery studio or clay-mixing operation. The higher-efficiency units rated at 99.97% efficiency (Willson Freedom 2000, Willson Valuair Plus and the 3M 8233 N100) would be very effective protection where lead or cadmium are present in the studio. However, the 3M 8210 and 8110S N95 (smaller size) rated at 95% efficiency would also meet studio requirements for safety. Each respirator was comfortable and adaptable to fit my face, creating an effective seal. The 3M respirators, having only paper-like fibers and elastic straps, were lighter in weight as compared with the Willson respirators. Respirator cost is not a consideration when health and safety are involved so deciding to purchase the cheapest respirator was not a factor in the evaluation. NIOSH publishes a pocket guide listing all raw materials and their permissible exposure levels. The 3M company also publishes a similar listing on raw materials, which is updated annually. Potters can use either guide to decide the safe levels of specific raw materials in their studios. If needed, the guides can be used to determine the type and efficiency level of respirator needed in the studio. However, if the potter wanted to pursue air quality to a much greater degree, the first step would be to hire an industrial hygienist who would monitor the studio (estimated cost for the test is $100 to $180) to determine the level of particulate in the air. The information gathered from testing would then indicate the proper respirator type and filter. Jeff Zamek, a frequent contributor to PMI, works as a ceramics consultant residing in Southampton, Massachusetts. He is the author of What Every Potter Should Know, published by Krause Publications. Contact Jeff at 6 Glendale Woods Dr., Southampton, MA 01073; or by e-mail at FIXPOTS@aol.com.

Ceramics at princeton.edu

Clay

Clays are minerals composed of hydrated aluminum silicates, often containing large amounts of crystalline silica. Other impurities may include organic matter or sulfur compounds.  Sometimes, grog (ground firebrick), sand, talc, vermiculite, perlite, and small amounts of minerals such as barium carbonate and metal oxides, are added to modify clay properties.  Clays can be worked by hand or on the potter's wheel, or cast in a clay slurry into molds.

Clay is made by mixing dry clay with water in clay mixer.  Clay slip is made by adding talcs which themselves can be contaminated with fibrous asbestos or asbestos-like materials.  Geographical sources of talcs are relevant, for example, New York State talcs are notoriously asbestos-contaminated, while Vermont talcs are not.  Pfizer has some fiber-free talcs.

Hazards

1. There have been known cases of silicosis, or "potter's rot, from chronic inhalation of large amounts of free silica during clay mixing.  Symptoms of silicosis include: shortness of breath, dry cough, emphysema, and high susceptibility to lung infections such as tuberculosis.  The disease may take years to develop.  Silica dust exposure is not hazardous by skin contact or ingestion.  
2. Chronic inhalation of kaolin is moderately hazardous, and can result in kaolinosis, a disease in which the lungs become mechanically clogged. 
3. Asbestos is extremely toxic by inhalation and possibly by ingestion.  Asbestos inhalation may cause asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, stomach cancer, and intestinal cancer.
4. Sand, perlite, grog, and vermiculite contain free silica and are, therefore, highly toxic by inhalation.  Vermiculite is also frequently contaminated with asbestos.
5. Clay scraps on the floor, bench  and other surfaces can dry and pulverize, producing an inhalation hazard due to the presence of free silica.  Similarly, reconditioning clay by pulverization and sanding finished green ware, can create very high concentrations of hazardous silica dust.

Precautions

1. Use premixed clay to avoid exposure to large quantities of clay dust.
2. Clay storage and mixing should take place in a separate room.  Bags of clay (and other pottery materials) should be stacked on palettes or grids off the floor for easier clean-up.
3. All clay mixers should be equipped with local exhaust ventilation to remove fine silica dust particles from the air.
4. Clay mixers should be equipped with proper machine guards so that they cannot be opened to add clay or water while the mixer blades are turning.
5. Wear separate work clothes while in the studio.  Choose clothes of material and design that don't trap dust.  Wash these clothes weekly, and separately from other laundry.
6. Avoid contact of clay with broken skin.  Use a skin moisturizer. 
7. To prevent back problems, always lift with knees bent. Also, use a standup wheel (Cranbrook style treadle wheel), or elevate electric wheels to a height that doesn't require bending over.  Exercise and massage may relieve minor muscular pain.
8. Keep wrists in unflexed position as much as possible to prevent carpel tunnel syndrome.  Take frequent work breaks. 
9. Be careful of the moving parts on kickwheels.
10. Recondition clay by cutting still-wet clay into small pieces, letting them air-dry, and soak in water. 
11. Finish green ware while still wet or damp with a fine sponge instead of sanding when dry.  Do not sand greenware containing fibrous talc.
12. Wet mop floors and work surfaces daily to minimize dust levels and prevent dry scraps from becoming pulverized. 

Glazes

Glazes used to color or finish clay pieces are a mixture of silica, fluxes and colorants.  Common fluxes include lead, barium, lithium, calcium and sodium, and are used to lower the melting point of silica.  The actual colorants, which are an assortment of metal oxides usually account for less than 5% of the glaze by weight.

High fire porcelain and stoneware techniques eliminate the need for lead as a flux.  Also, alkali earth or alkaline earth fluxes can be used for low-fire conditions instead of lead. Silica may also be removed from leadless type glazes.  The substitution can be based on boric oxide as the glass-former, instead of silica.  Alkali earth fluxes include sodium, potassium, and lithium oxides; alkaline earth fluxes include calcium, magnesium, barium, and strontium oxides.  Minerals containing these fluxes include certain feldspars, nepheline syenite, petalite, bone and plant ashes, whiting, and dolomite. 

Glaze components are weighed, sorted and mixed with water.  These materials are often in fine powdered form, and result in high dust exposures.  Glazes can be dipped, brushed, poured, or sprayed on the ceramic piece.

1. Free silica occur in many of the clays, plant ash, flint, quartz feldspars, talcs, etc. used in glazes.  See the discussion above for the hazards of silica and the disease silicosis.  Weighing and mixing glazes can result in the inhalation of these toxic materials.

1. If possible, don't use colorants that are known human carcinogens and avoid probable human carcinogens.  There is no known safe level of exposure to carcinogens.
2. Consider wearing a respiratory when weighing and mixing powdered.  Wet glazes are not an inhalation hazard.  Good housekeeping procedures and cleanup of spills reduce the risk of inhalation or ingestion of toxic dusts.  Wet mop spilled powders.

Kilns (top)

1. Chlorine, fluorine, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone are highly toxic by inhalation.  Bisque firings of high-sulfur clay have caused the production of great amounts of choking sulfur dioxide.  Other large acute exposures to gases are not common.  Inhalation of large amounts of these gases can result in severe acute or chronic lung problems.  Long-term inhalation of low levels of these gases can cause chronic bronchitis and emphysema.  Fluorine gas can also cause bone and teeth problems.

dust, claydust, masks and respirators

And while we're on the subject of dust masks, I was very confused by the
article "Respirators for Potters" in this spring's Pottery Making
Illustrated by Jeff Zamek which listed a paper dust mask as a "first
choice....for protection against airborne particles found in the pottery
studio." Did anyone else stop short at reading that? I was under the
impression that it is very important to have that respirator seal against
your face, otherwise you are breathing in particles around the sides
anyway. The article states that there is a mere difference of 4 percent
(the paper mask filtering 95 percent of particles, and the highest rated
NIOSH particle respirator filtering 99.97 percent)

Now, I have been grumbling on and off about the aforementioned disposable
paper dust masks that are in use at our community art center -- mostly
because it was recommended we re-use them by putting them in a plastic
bag
(!). I refused and toss mine out after one use (cleaning shelves or
grinding ware outside). However, I also refuse to mix glazes inside
unless
they buy me my own particle respirator, because I just feel like those
little flimsy paper things are not enough to stand between me and major
lung problems (as an ex-smoker and an ex-asthma sufferer I try to be
extra
careful). Am I wrong to take this position?

I also shuddered at the opening line in the article where he mentions
sweeping his studio -- who does that? I was under the impression that
all
studio cleaning should be wet cleaning.

...
This is becoming a real concern to me especially because of how conscious
I
am now of the general dust floating around our studio. I make all my
classes wipe down all surfaces and mop all the floors, but not every
teacher does this after each class. Then there's dust lurking in lots of
corners -- uncleaned slab roller cloth and wooden bats, plastic wadded up
in the trash can with dry clay bits all over it, an opened bag of bone
ash
sitting under the wedging table -- the list could go on for days. And
after lab time it is really bad, with people doing the "not me" excuse
for
messes left everywhere. Short of becoming the janitor and cleaning up
after
everyone (or leaving my job altogether) what can I do? I've already
asked
my boss (who is not a potter) to order Monona's book, and I keep making
her
post signs reminding people to clean up, I've posted the the article from
the Laguna website on "the dangers of crystalline silica" but nothing
seems
to help. And I'm leery of pushing too hard. I seem to be the only one
with any concerns and I'm the youngest teacher there....

This is a really difficult issue for me, especially since my
apprenticeships were with really well-trained potters who kept immaculate
studios (I know because I did a lot of the cleaning work!). Is there
anyone else who has had this problem (especially at the community center
level) and dealt with it successfully?

Thanks in advance for any ideas, help or encouragement you could offer.

Julie