[Jewelry making - Article 00405] - Re: [Orchid] Polishing up oyster shells

[Lindsay Legler]

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>     The dust from sawing or grinding shells, just like the dust from
>     sawing or grinding rock, can cause short term irritation and long
>     term damage to the lungs and eyes. 

    I'm guessing that someone confused the rather horrific cases of
    silicosis and lung cancer suffered by old style inlayers and
    knifemakers with poisoning. The shell acts like glass shards inside
    the lungs and has effects that would easily seem like poisoning to
    the uninformed. 

    And just a respirator won't cut it. Shell should always be worked wet
    or even underwater. The dust hangs in the air for long periods of
    time, and you'll inhale it when you take off your mask at the end of
    the day. 

Lindsay Legler
Dreaming Dragon Designs
http://www.dreamingdragondesign.etsy.com
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