[pure-silver] Re: Change of subject - darkroom attire

  • From: "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 20:20:09 -0700


----- Original Message ----- From: "Hagner, Andrew" <Andrew_Hagner@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 3:03 PM
Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Change of subject - darkroom attire


Speaking of not putting one's hands into chemicals, I have recently
spoken to a commercial lab owner in Montreal who developed some kind of
super sensitivity to certain volatiles in the environment, including
perfumes and other cosmetics. Apparently this is caused by dermal
exposure to the compounds in the B&W fixer, which I assume it to mean
thiosulphate. The initial symptoms are tightness in the joints of the
hands. Does anyone know any details of this phenomenon? It is supposed
to be reasonably well documented but not widely known. I understand
that the sensitivity is quite severe.

- Andrew.

All sorts of things are sensitizers. One can be immune to them until exposed a few times and then develop a sensitivity. Even poison ivy and oak are like this, some people are completely immune to them the first time but develop a sensitivity later.
I have never heard of skin sensitizing from fixer but its possible. The sulfur dioxide fumes from acid fixer can trigger asthma. I have a mild version of this myself.
The most common sensitivity in photography is to Metol. While some older literature states that the sensitivity is actually to para-phenylenediamine as in impurity in the Metol, later research indicates Metol itself is a sensitizer. Other developing agents are also sensitizers (PPD is notorious) but I have no statistics on how common the sensitivities are. One reason Metol sensitivity is common is because Metol is so common.
Its common sense to keep your hands out of the chemicals.

---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


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