Clay and consequences

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

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Susie Thompson