Monz
Monz
Probably overkill.
Health risks of developing B&W at home
- Thread starter Roel
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Probably overkill.
x-ray
Veteran
Be run tens of thousands of sheets and rolls of film both b&w and color since starting in the late 50's and never had an issue. I've known personally several other professionals to live well into their 90's and over 100 with no problems. As a matter of fact I know several still living in their 90's. One of my associates passed away last year at 92.
Frontman
Well-known
There health risks are not really significant if you take just a few small precautions. The first is ventilation. Most kitchens or bathrooms have ventilation fans which will draw out most vapors. The next is contact with your skin, which isn't so much dangerous to your health, but the chemicals can dry your skin enough to cause pain and cracks (which I have learned form long experience), you should wear rubber gloves when filling, agitating, or otherwise handling your tanks, as well as when rinsing your film.
The point when you should be most careful is when mixing powdered developer, when pouring the powder into a container, it lets of a lot of fine dust which is easily inhaled. It also gives off dust when water is added to it. I tend to keep my head well away from my hands when mixing dry chemicals.
The point when you should be most careful is when mixing powdered developer, when pouring the powder into a container, it lets of a lot of fine dust which is easily inhaled. It also gives off dust when water is added to it. I tend to keep my head well away from my hands when mixing dry chemicals.
dufffader
Leicanaut/Nikonaut...
I would never thought about developing in my kitchen. I do spend a lot of time in the kitchen as well, probably more than developing, and one thing I try to do is to keep it clean to prevent cross contamination. Who knows where the small droplets of developer or fixer is going to end up.
In the bathroom, at least I could wash down the entire bathroom with water after every development (I must say my significant other must be happy she doesn't have to do this chore). Can't say that I could do the same step with a kitchen.
In the bathroom, at least I could wash down the entire bathroom with water after every development (I must say my significant other must be happy she doesn't have to do this chore). Can't say that I could do the same step with a kitchen.
R
rpsawin
Guest
If you have concerns wear nitrile gloves (not latex), use a mask to cover your mouth and wear safety glasses.
Sparrow
Veteran
x-ray
Veteran
The only time I wear safety glasses, apron and gloves is when I do collodion wet plate images. With collodion I'm working with cadmium, silver nitrate and potassium cyanide. I even wear a full face shield when pouring potassium cyanide just in case I get a splash in the face which could be deadly. I also use the cyanide in a well ventilated area or outside. Also I only dispose of the KCN after completely neutralizing it with hydrogen peroxide. No mistakes are allowed in this process.
Roel
Well-known
Wow. Thanx guys for all your responses. So normal safety measures like gloves and good ventilation are in order.
Fortunately most of you did not encounter very serious effects. However reading the first pages (on Amazon) of the writer of this book there are also other stories which don't sound to happy.
Did not read the book and maybe the bigger danger is concerning color chemicals.
For myself I will stop using the D76 powder chemicals and use a liquid alternative.
Fortunately most of you did not encounter very serious effects. However reading the first pages (on Amazon) of the writer of this book there are also other stories which don't sound to happy.
Did not read the book and maybe the bigger danger is concerning color chemicals.
For myself I will stop using the D76 powder chemicals and use a liquid alternative.
oftheherd
Veteran
Some people do develop alergies. There are some other chemicals in not often used processes, some of which are mentioned above. One not mentioned yet is pyrol. Last I knew, there stilll wasn't any study that verifed a link, but empirically, it was linked to parkinson's disease among those who used it without gloves, which was common some years ago. Pyrol is considered a poison, but lethal amounts aren't extablished for humans due to a severe shortage of human test volunteers.
But most common b/w chemicals are relatively safe, with just a little common sense care.
Sparrow
Veteran
xia_ke
Established
I don't see any reason to stop using D76 if you like it. It has been around for decades upon decades and used by probably millions over the course of its production. While I have never used it, I know many that use it regularly and swear by it. Here's a good write up on it:
http://jeffreysoper.com/node/101
http://jeffreysoper.com/node/101
Mark T
Established
To avoid health risks I suggest staying home and locking the door. Driving the car, crossng the street, using mobile telephones all have risks that could seriously damage one's health. Not to mention air quality in cities, hormones and antibiotics in the food chain, as well as...
grdglass
Member
One of the top priorities for you is a professional exhaust system. Also note that some towns/cities require a silver reclamation tank because dumping chemicals down the drain causes water and soil contamination.
Requin
Established
Developing B&W film and prints is a risk - a photographer in my neighborhood died at the age of 100 years! So, if you don't drink the chemicals, protect yourself from contact with that stuff and breathe clean air there's not much risk. Bring your used fluids to the hazardous waste disposal site. Just my 2 cents.
JoeV
Thin Air, Bright Sun
Gloves and eye protection are common sense when working around chemicals. And don't share equipment that could be used in food preparation.
The biggest risk in B/W processing, IMO, is mixing stop bath from concentrated Glacial Acetic Acid. Always add a small quantity of acid to a larger quantity of water, and not the reverse (otherwise a violent exothermic reaction could result in acid exploding in your face). Don't spill it, even small drops, as they are very corrosive. Use labware like plastic pipette tubes and use good laboratory handling skills. And don't drink too much caffeine beforehand. 🙂
~Joe
The biggest risk in B/W processing, IMO, is mixing stop bath from concentrated Glacial Acetic Acid. Always add a small quantity of acid to a larger quantity of water, and not the reverse (otherwise a violent exothermic reaction could result in acid exploding in your face). Don't spill it, even small drops, as they are very corrosive. Use labware like plastic pipette tubes and use good laboratory handling skills. And don't drink too much caffeine beforehand. 🙂
~Joe
Fotohuis
Well-known
Roel, being export manager for Amaloco Photochemicals (2000-2008) I can only tell you that the amount of Hydroquinone in AM74 was less then any prescriped amount for hazardous tests on rats, concerning carcinogenic caused to death. Maco had a lot of our chemicals under OEM and now they have ordered Spur for a succesor for AM74 with even a real minimum of Hydroquinone. It is called Rollei Supergrain and I must say this is a real nice semi-compensating developer for almost any B&W film. About powder chemicals it is obvious that these can cause more risk due to dust when dissolving it.
grandallj
Grainy
The greatest risk, if you are like me, is the aggregate number of beers you would consume during developing sessions across months/years.
pixelated
Established
That book is a little bit extreme in it's POV.
There are some risks, and some people develop dermatitis and other reactions to some developers. But for most people, it's easily avoided by using gloves, and/or keeping your hands out of the chemistry. The other precautions like using a dust mask when mixing dry chemicals, and general ventilation are also good ideas.
Kitchens aren't the best place for doing processing though. Even though most of the chemicals for conventional B&W aren't deadly poisons you don't want to eat or drink them.
You can always tell how careful a darkroom worker is by looking at the DR a few hours after he has finished, are there little white spots here and there of dried fixer?
It's easy enough to wipe down counters, but the small drops or splatters that may end up somewhere they shouldn't can be easy to miss.
If possible, I'd recommend switching to a bathroom if you can't arrange a dedicated space.
There are some risks, and some people develop dermatitis and other reactions to some developers. But for most people, it's easily avoided by using gloves, and/or keeping your hands out of the chemistry. The other precautions like using a dust mask when mixing dry chemicals, and general ventilation are also good ideas.
Kitchens aren't the best place for doing processing though. Even though most of the chemicals for conventional B&W aren't deadly poisons you don't want to eat or drink them.
You can always tell how careful a darkroom worker is by looking at the DR a few hours after he has finished, are there little white spots here and there of dried fixer?
It's easy enough to wipe down counters, but the small drops or splatters that may end up somewhere they shouldn't can be easy to miss.
If possible, I'd recommend switching to a bathroom if you can't arrange a dedicated space.
Ronald M
Veteran
The big risk is developing an allergy to the metol in D76. It is rare, but does happen. If it does, you can not be in the same room as even mixed D76 I am told.
Keep bare hand out of it and rinse if it splashes.
ID11 uses phenoden instead and does not produce allergy. Results are the same.
Do not breath dust while mixing.
Keep bare hand out of it and rinse if it splashes.
ID11 uses phenoden instead and does not produce allergy. Results are the same.
Do not breath dust while mixing.
MrFujicaman
Well-known
The problem with "metol" (elon) is not the metol itself, but impuritys in the metol that cause reactions in some people.
As for the famed "pyro causes Parkinson's" line that's BS. Every time that one comes up they mention Margret Bourke-White. Uh, folks...she didn't do her own darkroom work. The other is Edward Weston-and he lived to be 80 !
One of Ansel Adam's last requests was that tissue samples be taken after his death to see what damage 65+ years of darkroom work had done. Now, Ansel had used Amidol, Pyro and selenium toner over the years along with more common photo chemicals. The tests found nothing.
If you're worried, use nitrile gloves...I've found that latex gloves just don't hold up well and make sure you have good ventilation. Powdered chemicals put a bunch of chemical dust in the air during mixing.
As for the famed "pyro causes Parkinson's" line that's BS. Every time that one comes up they mention Margret Bourke-White. Uh, folks...she didn't do her own darkroom work. The other is Edward Weston-and he lived to be 80 !
One of Ansel Adam's last requests was that tissue samples be taken after his death to see what damage 65+ years of darkroom work had done. Now, Ansel had used Amidol, Pyro and selenium toner over the years along with more common photo chemicals. The tests found nothing.
If you're worried, use nitrile gloves...I've found that latex gloves just don't hold up well and make sure you have good ventilation. Powdered chemicals put a bunch of chemical dust in the air during mixing.
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