[Jewelry making - Article 00283] - Re: [Orchid] Red Rouge Health Hazards

[Daniel Ballard]

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Hello,

    As Californians have discovered via our own overzealous regulators
    rouge is a health hazard. You now need a licensed hazmat hauler and
    processor to refine your gold. 

    Of course, there is no dust or metal fume that is healthy to inhale. 

    The point is not to change polishing material, as the copper, zinc
    and nickel in the jewelry you polish is a hazard if inhaled. Skin
    exposure is best avoided as well, but this is far less risky. 

    Because of the sheer value, jewelers often control the polishing
    dust very well already. We do tend to keep our dust collectors
    working very well. It's funny that we protect our wallets ahead of
    our lungs.... Heck our industry (A now defunct MJSA Taskforce) taught
    the California regulators years ago how material control is really
    best accomplished! 

    I used to collect this dust, by cleaning out the dust collectors for
    our customers. I know a few tricks to keep the dust down, like a
    water spritz onto the dust to keep it from getting airborne. I always
    used a respirator filter mask (not just those cheap paint store dust
    masks that do not fit well). After you used the lever that knocks the
    dust from the filter down into the collection bin, walk away for a
    while to allow your (perhaps $100 per pound value) dust to settle.
    Then handle it slowly, use the water spritz, and then send it to a
    reliable processor. 

Daniel Ballard
PMWest
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