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e . :A e â€" s ie 3 B : ' Â¥4 K 14 a + P C k 15 L2 . PAGE 4 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1982 wish to thank all the parade and drum corps participants and the sponsors, merchants, citizens and media for their support in making this birthday event such a success. - IT PMYS T0 ADVERTIISE ... ADVERTISE WHERE IT PAYS... KIWANIS KAVALIERS DRUM & BUGLE CORPS Pottery and ceramics can be the most dangerous hobbies if proper precautions are not taken, experts warn. Waterloo‘s 125TH Anniversary 2e . Parade . and Tattoo Committee Chemicals used by hobbyists can be hazardous, health researchers say The Parade and Tattoo Committee and the Artists beware! Your favorite pastime may be hazardous to your health, according to Cindy Curik, enyvironmental/occupational conâ€" sultant for the Ontario Lung Association in Toâ€" ronto. f Curik, a graduate of the University of Waterioo in health services, is cumnfly preparing a pamphlet for artists and hobbyists entitled Health Hazards in the Arts "to make people aware of the potential hazards of working with certain chemical substances and materials over a long period of time." Curik began her research on the subject after receiving several inquiries from profesâ€" sional artists and hobbyists who were conâ€" cerned about the safety of the substances with which they were working. Visual Arts Ontario, a threeâ€"day conference for artists held earlier this year in Toronto, gave Curik further incentive to continue her work. At the conference, she heard several ‘‘horror stories‘"‘ from professional artists. Many of these artists, who have worked with chemicals for a number of years, have begun to suffer severe allergies, asthma or other respiratory ailments, and yet their efforts to discover the reasons for their physical probâ€" lems have been thwarted by the lack of information available. *"‘They wanted to know about the hazards of using certain materials but didn‘t know where to go for information,"‘ she explained. â€" Even doctors, not yet familiar with the danger of exposure to certain art materials, can provide little assistance. Curik has since prepared several bulletins on the dangers of art materials and has distributed them to lung associations throughâ€" out the province. Artists who contact manufacturers often find them unwilling to provide any information about the content of their products, and there are no laws in Canada obliging them to do so, explains Curik. Much of her research has been based on the work of Dr. Michae!l McCann, director of a clinic in New York which specializes in occupational hazards and writer of several articles and books on the dangers of chemicals commonly used in hobbies and the arts. Dr. Morris Fraser, director of the Centre for Occupational Health and Safety at the Univerâ€" sity of Waterloo, explains that very little research has been done in the area of the arts and hobbies. ‘"Attention has been directed much more to the man in the workplace where the greatest and lengthiest exposure takes place and to which legislation has been applied," he says. ‘‘*People fail to recognize that they can be exposed to the same hazards as a person in the workplace." Hobbyists, says Fraser, may be in an even more perilous situation than the professional artist because many are totally unaware of the dangers of the substances they are handling, and thus fail to take necessary precautions to ensure safety in their work area. Even those who work in a carefully conâ€" trolled environment during the day, where exposure to harmful substances is monitored, may run the risk of further exposure, perhaps at dangerous levels, if they engage in a hobby during their spare time, he warns. Basically, harmful substances can enter the body in three ways: inhalation of fumes or dusts, ingestion or swallowing and absorption through the skin. Pottery and ceramics are considered by Fraser to be the most dangerous hobbies if proper precautions are not taken. ~Dangers arise both from the mixing of the clays and glazes in powder form and in the inhalation of toxic fumes and gases produced in kiln firing. Many glazes and clays in powder form contain silica dust (and in some cases asbestos dust). If inhaled for a long period of time, this can lead to lung diseases such as silicosis and asbestosis. Glazes, manufactured from a metal base such as lead, zinc or cadmium, are recognized as irritants both to the lungs and skin and are damaging to other organs. _ _ Painters, too, are exposed to similar dangers in mixing their paints, but they run an equal risk from the solvents and varnishes they commonly use. Solvents such as turpenâ€" tine and methyl alcohol can be irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract, but they can also be absorbed into the body through the skin. According to Curik, their narcotic properties can cause tiredness, nausea and confusion. Many artists may suffer these symptoms, she explains, and yet never connect them to the Story and Photo by Pat Arbuckile substances they are working with. Sculptors face hazards from the inhalation of dust and fumes. This, of course, depends to a large extent on the medium in which they are Those working in stone inhale large amounts of dust caused by the chipping and grinding of the stone surface. Since many types of stone contain large amounts of silica dust, this can lead to silicosis. Woodworkers, too, inhale many types of sawdust which leads to irritation of the respiratory tract and eventually to asthma and allergies. Inhalation of fumes from solvents used in paint strippers and adhesive glues and skin contact with these substances can also produce lung and skin irritation. Even photographers who do their own darkroom work are exposed to many dangerâ€" ous chemicals, both in the processing of film and printing. Most problems occur in the mixing of chemicals from concentrated stock solution. Care should be taken to avoid inhalation of dusts and vapors in mixing the chemicals and direct skin contact. Hands should never be put directly into the chemicals, particularly the developer, which can be irritating to the skin and very toxic if ingested. Inhalation of many of these chemicals, including the fixer, Bleaches and hardeners, can cause lung corrosion and even lung cancer. Curik is not attempting in her work to convince hobbyists through scare tactics to give up their favorite pastime. We are trying to make people aware that they are working with dangerous substances, but that there are ways of working with them safely and there are others that should not be used at all," she explains. Artists and hobbyists should contact the manufacturer of the substance they are using and request a data sheet, outlining the ingredients of the product. If a particular manufacturer is reluctant to release this information, a group of artists should threaten to switch products. Curik also recommends substituting less hazardous materials where possible. Artists, for instance, can avoid using many harmful solvents for cleanâ€"up, she says. There are many cleansers on the market today which do the job just as well. Those who are working with materials that contain dust or harmful fumes should ensure that their workplace has proper ventilation. This may include local exhaust ventilation that removes these dusts and fumes at the source before they contaminate the environment. If there is inadequate ventilation, protective respiratory equipment should be used. Good housekeeping in the workplace is also important, says Curik. Materials should be stored in plastic or metal containers, rather than glass which breaks easily. These should be kept sealed at all times to avoid the escape of dust or fumes. Dust should be vacuumed or wetâ€"mopped, never swept. Sweeping only helps to stir up the dust more. _ _ Artists should never drink, eat or smoke in the work area since this increases the risk of ingestion of harmful materials. The combinaâ€" tion of smoke and chemical fumes might also increase lung irritation when inhaled. _ laundered frequently and kept separate from other clothing. After using dangerous substances, hands should be washed carefully with soap and water or a wateriess cleanser if a stronger solution is needed. Solvents should never be Finally, Curik recommends notifying the family doctor if hazardous chemicals are being used. In many cases, the artist should also be informed of the proper treatment if inhalation, ingestion or absorption of the substance at toxic levels should occur., Curik‘s pamphilet, outlining in greater detail the dangers of certain art materials, will be available to the general public this fall and can be obtained by contacting the Waterioo Regional Lung Association, 92 King St. S. in Waterioo. The first and most important step, she says, ‘‘Know the hazards you are working with," is advice experts give for