17 replies to this topic

[Maxim]

Ive recently been working with Minium (Lead teroxide) to make my dragons eggs. I am generally a hypochondriac i shall admit. I have been wearing rubber gloves, mask and eye protection and i threw the clothes i was wearing at the time into the wash straight away and then had a shower and washed all my equipment.

Now realistically, in what doses and contact does minium become a health hazard?

[MDH]

You shouldn't worry about it too much unless it is reacting to produce a more soluble lead salt. That doesn't make it safe - But it certainly does mean that you are in less danger of lead being absorbed through your skin. Treat it the same way you would barium carbonate or other toxic salts.

Why are you using lead over bismuth, out of curiosity?

Edited by MDH, 01 April 2010 - 12:40 AM.

[leosedf]

For years people have been painting boats over and over without even the minimal protection. Nobody i know of ever had something.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't use protection, but if you do you won't have a problem using it. I am using red lead too and never experienced something.
Good protection is allways good, a good mask, very good gloves, eyewear and possibly protective clothing.

[a_bab]

With that kind of protection you could have worked with cyanide with no ill effects.

Let's not exagerate the dangers: if you do a blood test right after the exposure, you *may* have the lead levels raised a bit, but not necessary from your dragon eggs.

[CCH Concepts]

i have found after using it even with a mask i have had a head ache, but that could be me being a hypochondriac. the main thing from what i have read is to wear gloves as it can pass through skin contact. but im sure like the other comments its not as bad as people say, but better safe than sorry.

[pyrotechnist]

People have been drinking water from lead pipes for years, putting lead on their windows etc and have no ill effects. I think lead affects you over a period of years of constant lead abuse than straight away. Dam if anything we dont have enough lead in our body!

[portfire]

People have been drinking water from lead pipes for years

Dates back to Roman times, the pipes are still around today. We get the word 'Plumbing' from the old latin name for lead 'Plumbum'

[pyrotechnist]

lol see and arnt we all still alive and fine :>, I do look at the worlds problems.... but nooo sure it aint to do with good old lead now.

[a_bab]

The lead water pipes are a different animal. They will develop the extremly insoluble lead carbonate, protecting them from further corrosion. As about the windows made with lead, even less to worry: in order to poison you, it needs to get airborne unless you stay the whole day long, licking it.

Just a bit of common sense, that's all we need to understand the risks. We've been brainwashed for too long. How 'bout the lead battery in the car? Or the crystal glass (flint)? Just drank some champaingne from a crystal glass, ooops. Made of lead oxide mostly.

Just use the respirator (a must), gloves, have a bath afterwards, change the clothes and that's all. Lead can kill, but the chronical exposure called saturnism has signs long before you are about to die. Just do a research.

[pyrotechnist]

Im assuming you need to inhale or ingest alot of it to be affect. Now the thought of licking lead windows ooooooh lol I am there are some nutters out there that do just that.

[Maxim]

Well that certainly does reassure me. I am using lead over bismuth because of the price mainly. Im making dragons eggs and for 150g i literally get close to nothing in amount! And they are really bad as well... But i guess it all takes practice. I spilt the lead a lot but i can clean it up as it is a bright orange colour and clearly visible.

[pyrotechnist]

One chemical I refuse to touch atm is barium carbonate even with protective gear. My dragon eggs suck to so your not alone there . They either do not light or do not crack but make a puff and shoot sparks all over the place.

[portfire]

One chemical I refuse to touch atm is barium carbonate even with protective gear.

Why ???

[Maxim]

Yes why? I think you possibly meant barium nitrate as it is extremely poisonous by ingestion and can go through the skin... but still its not THAT dangerous, just if you are stupid with it. Its essential for use in green stars (or at least the good ones).

[pyrotechnist]

Because of its solubility on humane skin and plus I dont like the green produced via Barium, instead I am trying to find another suitable source. If I need to I will use it or use it to produce another chemical but at the moment green is least of my worries and blue is the one I want to get correct.