Re: Darkroom hazards, was Levels & Curves

["JackG" <jackg@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Art,

Years ago I used to use a "desktop" b & w two chemical processor for short
lived prints to be used in magazines I did photography for. I had news
papers and at one time aluminum foil under the machine to catch some of the
spills. I was told later that the chemicals mixing with the foil could cause
a dangerous gas. I think it was cyanide gas but not for sure, but I know
they said it could do some bad harm.

John in OKC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur Entlich" <artistic@ampsc.com>
To: <scan@leben.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2001 12:33 AM
Subject: Re: Darkroom hazards, was Levels & Curves


| As someone else mentioned, some smokers live to a ripe old age, that, in
| itself, doesn't prove that smoking is safe.
|
| I don't think anyone in their right mind would suggest sepia toners with
| their hydrogen sulfide gas output, or mercury or chromium based negative
| intensifiers are safe to use without extreme care, or selenium toners,
| or cyanide based bleaches, yet this was commonplace in the early years
| of my darkroom work.  It is easy to refer to those who give us early
| warning of hazards as "eco-freaks" but history usually bears those early
| warnings out.
|
| Much of the problem with determining hazards with chemical contact is
| that it is a slow insidious process, often only obvious after years of
| contact, and manifested in later years of life.  Genetics and other
| factors enter into how people respond.  Asthma levels are up 10 fold
| among children, and perhaps indeed it is due to our more sterile
| environment and over active immune response, but regardless, they are
| more vulnerable to chemical respiratory sensitivities as a result.
|
| My own "profession photographer" experience simply bears out the
| concerns.  I have developed a severe, life-threatening sulfite
| sensitivity.  I cannot with 100% surety claim it was due to darkroom
| work, but that was certainly my main contact with sulfites.  I know of
| several other photographers this has happened to.
|
| "Eco-Freak" Art
|
| morris wrote:
|
|  > Ansel was only one of many  photographers that lived very long lives.
|  >
|  > It seems that the only real concern with photo chemicals that has been
|  > documented by true professionals, not a bunch of eco-freaks is skin
| problems
|  > from the developers.  This includes color chemicals..
|  >
|  > ron
|  > ----- Original Message -----
|  > From: Dave King <kingphoto@mindspring.com>
|  > To: <scan@leben.com>
|  > Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 8:48 AM
|  > Subject: Re: Darkroom hazards, was Levels & Curves
|  >
|  >
|  >
|  >>Artist beware isn't about photography, if I recall, photo chemicals
only
|  >>
|  > get
|  >
|  >>passing mention.  It's about materials that sculptors and painters use,
|  >>
|  > some
|  >
|  >>of which are extremely hazardous.  Significant numbers of artists have
|  >>
|  > been
|  >
|  >>severely injured before even knowing the potential dangers.  Perhaps
|  >>
|  > you're
|  >
|  >>thinking of "Over Exposure", which is about photography specifically?
|  >>
|  > Which
|  >
|  >>book are you referring to that came out after Ansel died?
|  >>
|  >>Whether the information is correct to the point of scientific certainty
|  >>isn't the deal here.  It's to alert people to the dangers, and help
them
|  >>
|  > be
|  >
|  >>avoided.  My memory of the book (it's not at hand) is that
| information was
|  >>presented as it existed, some anecdotal, some from controlled tests as
|  >>
|  > they
|  >
|  >>existed.  If I recall, caveats about accuracy were given.
|  >>
|  >>Most darkroom chemicals aren't terribly dangerous in the short term,
but
|  >>neither is smoking, and my grandmother who smoked all her life lived to
|  >>
|  > 80+.
|  >
|  >>The inference using Ansel as example is absurd.
|  >>
|  >>Dave
|  >>
|  >>----- Original Message -----
|  >>From: morris <morris@jps.net>
|  >>To: <scan@leben.com>
|  >>Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2001 12:29 PM
|  >>Subject: Re: Darkroom hazards, was Levels & Curves
|  >>
|  >>
|  >>
|  >>>Thats why Ansel only lived to be 80+.
|
|
|
|
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