"Susie Thompson" wrote in message
...
Hello everybody

I could do with your advice and opinion on something personal that's
happening with me that relates to this group. Last October I was
diagnosed with mild emphysema/COPD. I used to smoke a very little bit in
my twenties (I'm now 61). I was also brought up in a smoking household,
so I can't pin down just one cause from then.

I suspect that a more significant and maybe more likely cause is that fact
that I've worked with clay since I was 12, going on for 50 years now.
Having to do the sums makes me feel just ancient :-(( Years ago there
weren't the knowledge/warnings that clay and ceramic dusts could give long
term problems with lungs. Were there? Clouds of particles from so many
sources - plaster, sanding dry work, metal oxides etc, mixing glazes,
using onglaze and underglaze colours - the list goes on and on and on.
I'm going to have to use masks, take precautions and listen to good advice
from now on - something that the group might come up with to help me and
others.

The diagnosis of emphysema just stopped me in my tracks. I'm only getting
back to work now after several months of being down in the dumps. My
husband has been very supportive, as have friends and family. Still, when
it comes down to it, I'm on my own with this.

I'm not after the sympathy vote at all. But, I do wonder if it is worth
raising the health risk problems in view of where I am now? Young folks
think that they are immortal and invulnerable but perhaps putting up a
warning might be a good idea? Perhaps it's a warning for us all - I was
ignorant of the risk of dust and particles for years and simply didn't
take all the care that obviously I should and could have done. But then I
didn't realise and wasn't warned about the long term consequences all
those years ago.

I'm feeling pretty good at the moment and plan on going back into the
workshop on Sunday morning at around 10.00 am. I'll let you know how I
get along.

Thanks for being there folks.

Susie

I am not snipping this down because I think it is a very important message
and wish it were one we all talked about more.

It is so easy to think that nothing can happen to us - it always happens to
the other guy. I came very close to losing a hand because of that mind set.
I also think it important that it is a regular topic of discussion because
new potters are constantly coming into the field who have no idea that
silica can be as dangerous as asbestos and silica is in just about all
materials that we work with (clay, flint, feldspars, etc.). A studio should
always be cleaned with water and never dry swept. When mixing up glazes or
clay it should be done with a mask and you and your clothes should be washed
afterwards. The fine dust of silica can stay in the air for days - spray
the area with a mister after playing with materials.

Nicotine smoke and fine dust particles interact to be a far greater danger
than either alone and second hand smoke is actually worse than what smokers
inhale.

Yes, we all know potters and smokers who have lived to a ripe old age but
they are not the norm. I like potters - they to me are a special breed of
people. I want to see them all live well and live long.

Donna