[TheForge] msds for incralac

[Catherine Jo Morgan]

Just to fill in a bit on what's already been said - any solvent based
lacquer is hazardous to liver and kidneys (as is lacquer thinner.)
Unless you're doing a brief touch up outdoors, a real respirator (with
paint fume cartridge) is the only way to play it safe.

Other ingredients mentioned - xylene and toluene can cause birth
defects. (Male smiths may think this is irrelevant, but the rate of
cancer and respiratory problems in children is linked to fathers who
work with solvents like this. In other words, it comes home on your
skin, clothes, and get this - in the air you breathe out after your own
exposure.) MEK is even worse.

Acetone, on the other hand, is a much less toxic solvent. (Don't bathe
in it, but it's not as toxic as the above.)

You can take an msds and look up each chemical at www.chemfinder.com,
which has links to studies on health hazards. The osha site has some
good info too. Here's another link: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html

I've got a long list of links because 2 or 3 years ago I did a lot of
internet research, to decide which finishes to use. It got pretty
agonizing as I found a lot of information that was unpleasant to learn.
But it led me to some clear decisions about what I'll use and what I
won't. Everyone has to decide for themselves (unless their shop comes
under government regulations) where to draw the line. But the
information is very much available if you look for it.

Catherine Jo Morgan
Morgan Sculpture
Iron and mixed media vessels
cjmorgan@hemc.net
706-754-3812

online artist journal: http://radio.weblogs.com/0120691/