Metals pt2 - Unsafe metals found in Jewellery by ClarkeJ, Nov 3, 2013, 2:05:53 AM Journals / Personal Everyone involved in making jewellery should be aware of the moves within the US, Canada and EU to regulate and just as importantly enforce rules on the use of dangerous metals and materials in Jewellery. I write this piece because having a background connected to metallurgy I am shocked both at the toxic materials contained in Jewellery but also some of the attitudes towards them. One of the things that worries me most is that several people I have spoken to do not apply even the most basic health and safety when it comes to themselves. If you shape, polish, cut, melt, solder (or otherwise heat) you are exposing yourself to any dangerous materials more than if you just wear the stuff, and the health risks are real. I am reminded of something I came across a long time ago about an archeological site near Bristol. The archeologists knew that iron work/smithing was being done on the site since all of the skeletons they found had fatal concentrations of cadmium and lead in their bones- until the 20th century, smiths and metalworkers didnt get to live to old age. Heres what Im talking about (lifted from one of the US H&S discussion group sites) :- ------------------------------------------------------------------ LEAD The impact of even the smallest traces of lead on brain development in children includes irreversible learning and developmental problems leading to to lower IQ scores, delayed learning and shorter attention spans The EPA has listed lead as a probable human carcinogen CADMIUM Cadmium is classified as a known human carcinogen, associated with lung and prostate cancer Cadmium exposure is associated in animal studies with developmental effects, including possible decreases in birth weight, delayed sensory-motor development, hormonal effects, and altered behavior Exposure to cadmium can result in bone loss and increased blood pressure Acute toxicity from ingestion of high levels of cadmium can result in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and death Acute toxicity from inhalation of high levels of cadmium can result in symptoms similar to metal fume fever and severe gastroenteritis from high levels of cadmium ingestion CHROMIUM Laboratory studies indicate that Cr (VI) may cause birth defects, and reproductive problems particularly in males Higher levels of exposure have caused asthma attacks and nasal irritation in people MERCURY All forms of mercury can affect the kidneys Organic, inorganic, and metallic mercury are toxic to the nervous system, each affecting different regions of the brain Young children are more sensitive to mercury and may be exposed to mercury via the mother’s body to the fetus or through breast milk ARSENIC Inorganic arsenic is a known human carcinogen There is strong evidence that it is linked to lung, skin, and bladder cancer Inorganic arsenic may also cause skin irritation, skin color changes, blood disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and hormone disruption Preliminary data suggest that inorganic arsenic may interfere with normal fetal development and cause deficits in brain development and intelligence Preliminary studies have correlated type 2 diabetes with low-level arsenic consumption, implying that drinking low levels of arsenic may lead to type 2 diabetes ---------------------------------------------------------------- On top of this there are radioactive isotopes - particularly for titanium alloys; and nickel which we all know causes skin irritations but recent studies have found some evidence of tumors and cancers associated with surgical steel implants and their high nickel content. So what to do about it? You are responsible for the health and safety of yourself, colleagues, workforce and of course customer. (note added 22-nov this is the legal stance in both Europe and the US states with Jewellery regulations; EU law does allow for smaller suppliers via a carry-out about within reasonable expectations). The best way of not exposing yourself or customer to risk from metals that contain these contaminates is to not buy metals with these elements in them. However that leaves you with the question of how much is safe the attached fact sheet is a good start:- dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste… When polishing, cutting or heating metals wear a face mask to prevent inhalation of dust, wash your hands thoroughly before eating or drinking and you should be OK. Dont assume its ok! Get the mill certificates for metals. Any decent metal supplier will be used to providing mill certificates, 5% lead brass intended for some uses can be labeled lead free-for a jewellery application this is not the case. Be cautious about using metal items from other sources such as cogs from old clocks - arsenic and mercury levels can be very high, (even quite recently made things, (for instance there is a type of arsenic bronze that makes excellent hard wearing cogs), if they werent intended to come into close contact with skin). ----------------------------------------------------------- Extract of from the mill cert for a stainless steel I have just ordered (- 416) - concentration of nickel is low 0.2 % but without further treatment may not be sufficient to meet EU standards for jewellery and does not meet Californian or EU regulation for piercings. Note:- Surgical steels (430 and 316L) although high in nickel does meet EU standards for piercings according to the manufacturers. . Time allowing, I am willing to help and answer questions were I can, but do not have the facilities available to test metals anymore. Usefull reading ec.europa.eu/environment/integ… en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_D… teg.co.uk/nickel/guidance.… bssa.org.uk/topics.php?art… Links to my Metals general info pages clarkej.deviantart/journal… clarkej.deviantart/journal…
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 15:51:43 +0000
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