any dust health hazards?

[Bernard Arnest]

Dear Group,
Unlike, say, a thickness sander equipped with 500 grit paper for a
smoothing pass, it seems that most of the dust from marble carving are
crystal-sized, and falling safely to the table, never really suspended in
air. Though with each whack from a flat chisel, there' s a little puff of
fine dust...

Anyway; I can carve in the basement, I can carve in the basement w/ air
filter (no issue), I can carve in the basement with a dust mask (nuisance
enough that I might just stop carving), or I can carve outside and rely on
natural ventilation. As compared with other things, is there much health
hazard from marble dust, or may I breathe, confident that there's very
little dust in the air, and even less that's going to cut up or build up in
one's lungs?


thanks!
-Bernard

[z***@public.gmane.org]

Bernard,



Are you kidding? Yes there is a serious health risk.  This is a common topic that I and others have brought up before. There is a danger in breathing the dust and yes, there is a lot of dust suspended in the air that you don't see. It doesn't have to be visible to exist or pose a problem.



The fine dust particles you don't see are, on a molecular level, the same structurally as the large crystalline pieces you mention falling on your carving table.  The very fine pieces you don't see, are the very dangerous as they can lodge deep in your lungs causing chronic irritation and permanent damage, similar to what long term smokers experience.



Also, asbestos is naturally occuring in many stones, especially serpentine (green marble), and others.


A breathing mask, air movement and using water while grinding/sanding/polishing will keep most of the dust away from your lungs.  Also, staying away from working on stones that are likely to have asbestos.

Historically stone carvers have had short life spans, similar to miners, and suffered from lung problems.


Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Bernard Arnest <berninicaco3-***@public.gmane.org>
To: stone-***@public.gmane.org
Sent: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:57 am
Subject: [stone] any dust health hazards?




Dear Group,
Unlike, say, a thickness sander equipped with 500 grit paper for a
moothing pass, it seems that most of the dust from marble carving are
rystal-sized, and falling safely to the table, never really suspended in
ir. Though with each whack from a flat chisel, there' s a little puff of
ine dust...
Anyway; I can carve in the basement, I can carve in the basement w/ air
ilter (no issue), I can carve in the basement with a dust mask (nuisance
nough that I might just stop carving), or I can carve outside and rely on
atural ventilation. As compared with other things, is there much health
azard from marble dust, or may I breathe, confident that there's very
ittle dust in the air, and even less that's going to cut up or build up in
ne's lungs?

thanks!
-Bernard


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[Walter S. Arnold]

Post by z***@public.gmane.org
Historically stone carvers have had short life spans, similar to miners,
and suffered from lung problems.

While that is true for granite and sandstone carvers, it is not the case
for those who stick with oolitic limestone and white marble. I have been
fortunate throughout my career to know many carvers who were still active
and working into their late '80s and early '90's, and who never used masks.

I did work with one marble carver early on who sadly died of lung cancer at
age 59; he had been a heavy smoker (unfiltered cigarettes) all his life. I
also knew a granite carver who was working until he was 88, but he had worn
masks every time he touched a piece of granite from the third year of his
apprenticeship on.

Note that what I say only applies to the stones which are at least 98% pure
calcium carbonate, like Indiana limestone and Carrara marble; the colored
marbles and dolomitic limestones have other minerals and vitamins mixed in,
so YMMV.


Walter S. Arnold * walter-VaaHNYf8zNnENDDW/***@public.gmane.org
Gallery: http://www.stonecarver.com
Gargoyle postcards: http://www.stonecarver.com/postcard.html

[Hana Levi Julian]

Does anyone know where in Israel to get:
1. high-grit paper (600 - 12,000)
2. breathing masks (NO, NOT FOR BIOCHEMICAL WARFARE) :)

Thanks,
hana

[Robin Antar]

Does anyone know where in Israel to get:
1. high-grit paper (600 - 12,000)
2. breathing masks (NO, NOT FOR BIOCHEMICAL WARFARE) :)

Thanks,
hana






-----Original Message-----
From: Hana Levi Julian [mailto:alj770-***@public.gmane.org]
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 3:45 AM
To: stone-***@public.gmane.org
Subject: [stone] Re: any dust health hazards?

Does anyone know where in Israel to get:
1. high-grit paper (600 - 12,000)
2. breathing masks (NO, NOT FOR BIOCHEMICAL WARFARE) :)

Thanks,
hana



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Email stone-request-***@public.gmane.org (not the list) with subject
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[Anthony Tribby]

Post by z***@public.gmane.org
Also, asbestos is naturally occuring in many stones, especially
serpentine (green marble), and others.

I just last night found some pieces of "Rainforest Green" marble that
I was planning to play with. It is so odd...so light, almost feels
like it must be plastic rather than marble.

How dangerous is it to handle/use? I know when I've seen people
cleaning up schools that had asbestos ceiling tiles, they wore suits
like they might as well have been cleaning up a nuclear spill, but
this stuff was polished like someone was going to be using it for
countertops. Aside from the fact that it just seems way too soft to
take *any* abuse, I can't imagine people would have it installed in
their house if it was dangerous...would they?

Should I chuck this stuff, or just make sure I'm careful when working
with it and cleaning up afterward?

-Tony

[Gyelt Tuinstra]

Post by Anthony Tribby

Post by z***@public.gmane.org
Also, asbestos is naturally occuring in many stones, especially
serpentine (green marble), and others.

I just last night found some pieces of "Rainforest Green" marble that

...

Post by Anthony Tribby
How dangerous is it to handle/use? I know when I've seen people
cleaning up schools that had asbestos ceiling tiles, they wore suits

...

Post by Anthony Tribby
take *any* abuse, I can't imagine people would have it installed in
their house if it was dangerous...would they?

Well, didn't people use asbestos and install it in their houses as well?
On the other hand if, if you don't carve/pulverize asbestos-containing
stone it is less dangerous.

Post by Anthony Tribby
Should I chuck this stuff, or just make sure I'm careful when working
with it and cleaning up afterward?

I don't know that stone, but have it tested if your not sure, shouldn't
cost to much. I don't think you can work carefully enough with
asbestos. E.g. dutch regulations do not allow for virtually any dust
particle to escape into the open, and there is a reason for those
regulations...
You would cary particals around on your clothes and your body (hence the
special suits) and endanger also those around you.

Gyelt

[Hana Levi Julian]

After all this abestos discussion, folks, I am glad I limit my work to
alabaster.
Hana