[Jewelry making - Article 00152] - [Orchid] Silicosis and quenching

[James Binnion]

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Was: Understanding Casting Shrinkage

>     What gives? Is casting to be viewed like sucking unfiltered Camel
>     cigarettes? I will always advocate the safest and practical way to
>     do things. 

    Todd and all others who are interested. 

    The danger of silicosis is real and potentially deadly. It is listed
    as a known carcinogen on the MSDS and you will find a warning like
    this one from R&R Ultravest on any package or directions from
    investment suppliers 

        "WARNING! 

        Contains respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Do not breathe
        dust. May cause delayed lung injury (silicosis, pneumoconiosis).
        The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) reports
        (IARC Monograph 68) there is sufficient evidence in humans for
        the carcinogenicity of inhaled crystalline silica in the forms of
        quartz and cristobalite from inhaled crystalline silica in the
        forms of quartz and cristobalite from occupational sources. The
        NTP (National Toxicology Program) reports (Ninth Annual Report
        on Carcinogens) that RCS is known to be a carcinogen based on
        sufficient evidence from studies in humans indicating a causal
        relationship between exposure to RCS and increased lung cancer
        rates in workers exposed to crystalline silica dust. Follow OSHA
        Safety and Health Standards for crystalline silica. See Material
        Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for detailed information." 

    Checkout 
    http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0200/d000291/d000291.html
    as one of many articles on the web about it also see
    http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/silicax.pdf. 

    Investment is roughly 80 % silica in a much more finely ground state
    than your typical construction worker gets exposed to. Breathing the
    dust while mixing or quenching is almost impossible to avoid. Even
    wearing N95 masks is rarely enough protection because a) most people
    don't know how to make sure the fit is correct and b) the most
    dangerous dust stays in the air for long periods of time after mixing
    or quenching. That dust settles on every surface of the shop and
    every time you sweep or vacuum it up it gets redistributed into the
    air. Your investing and quenching facilities need to be properly
    ventilated and tested to make sure it is working properly 

    Google silicosis and you will be overwhelmed with information on the
    topic but little relating directly to jewelry trades. The there have
    been several papers written and presented to the Santa Fe Symposium
    on Jewelry Manufacturing and Technology about the silicosis problem,
    contact Rio Grande for information on which proceedings contain
    information on the topic. 

    Saying that you have been doing something that is unsafe for many
    years and have not had any ill effects is very much like saying you
    have been smoking for years and haven't seen any ill effects from
    it. You are not in a position to make that assessment in an objective
    manner. By the time the effects of silicosis show up it is way too
    late to do anything about it. 

    Todd, you need to get with some occupational health experts and
    learn some more about this because you teach in a school and are both
    responsible for the health of your students while in the classroom
    and in providing them with safe practices information to protect
    them throughout their career. 

>     Are those who can only research about technique the only real
>     authority on jewelry making? I don't make this stuff up folks. If
>     you are lucky enough to ever get into some of the industry casting
>     facilities as I have you would see how it is done. 

    FWIW 

    I was the production manager at a casting company where we did
    hundreds of flasks per week, so I have just a little practical
    experience in the field. 

James Binnion
jbin AT mokume-gane.com
James Binnion Metal Arts
http://www.mokume-gane.com
360-756-6550
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