Re: Chemical nastiness

["Dave King" <kingphoto@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I haven't used my darkroom since investing in Profiler Pro and an X-Rite
DTP-41:), but I had become somewhat chemically sensitive over the years and
found a book called "Artist Beware" very helpful in the design of my last
darkroom ventilation system.  (Another book called "Over Exposure" gives
hazard analysis for photographic chemicals specifically.  Don't know if
either is still in print.)

Using what I learned in Artist Beware, I built a shallow but wide box onto
the wall the sink is against and the intake slot is the bottom edge of that
box.  This box feeds into a larger volume mixing chamber that is connected
by standard vent pipe materials to an exterior mounted *restaurant size*
kitchen exhaust fan (available at Grainger's).  This system works quite
well.  The slot is well below head level so fumes are routed away, and the
pull is strong enough that small children and pets get sucked into the vent
slot when they get too close:)  The stuff they market specifically as
darkroom ventilation products is a pathetic joke - they don't work.

Then I used B&W tray covers that only opened for ingress or egress, and the
RA-4 roller transport machine was vented directly to the vent system.  The
tray covers took a little getting used to, but it was worth it, the air
quality was noticeably improved over no covers, and between ventilation,
tray covers, and care in handling I could work in the darkroom comfortably.

Dave

----- Original Message -----
From: byard pidgeon <bluedove@ccountry.net>
To: <scan@leben.com>
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 1:25 AM
Subject: Re: Chemical nastiness


> From my experiences, by the time one has become sensitized, it's too late
to
> try any of these measures.
> The body has been compromised, and you're going to get sick anyway.
>
> on 12/27/2001 05:05 PM, Philip Kagan at peoplex@laplaza.org wrote:
>
> > Dear Chip,
> >
> > Try using Citric Acid if you *must* have an acid stop bath (instead of
> > plain water) and Ammonium Thiosulfate Fixers ( Kodafix, and Rapid Fixer
> > without the additional acid).
> >
> > Chip Louie wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> I had to stop using my B&W darkroom due to becoming very sensitive to
some
> >> chemicals in the developer and stop bath fumes over a period of several
> >> years of heavy, almost daily use.

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