From: smudd@vstn1.math.uoknor.edu (stephanie)
Subject: Re: Pregnancy and Photo Chemicals
Originator: news@kittyhawk.ecn.uoknor.edu
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 16:23:00 GMT
Distribution: usa
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Mathematics Computer Network, University of Oklahoma

In article <1993Jan18.162744.22942@schbbs.mot.com>, EMN002@email.mot.com (Mary Beth Northrup) writes...
>In article <C0v8Gy.LF6@cs.psu.edu>, dms@math.psu.edu (Dianne M Saunders) writes:
>> 
>> 
>> I have recently enrolled in a photography class in which we will be
>> developing our own photos (black and white only).  This will be my
>> first experience with this process.  However, I'm concerned with the
>> dangers of exposure to the developer chemicals during early pregnancy.
>> (But I'm not pregnant yet :-) )
>> 
>> The sources I have checked, my professor and the textbook, were not
>> helpful.  I just posted to rec.photo for information and I thought I'd
>> see what folks here know about the subject.
>> 
>> Please email to dms@math.psu.edu or post here if you have any knowledge
>> or if you know of reliable sources.
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> Dianne
>> 
>> 
>I am an environmental engineer and not a safety expert (standard disclaimer),
>but I am in the same department as Safety and get "exposed" :-) to a lot
>of their info.
> 
>A good way to get information about chemical products is to request a copy
>of the manufacturer's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The manufacturer
>is required by OSHA to provide it to purchasers of any product that contains
>one or more hazardous substances. The MSDS will give you a lot of 
>information about what's in the product, what the potential health effects
>are, and how to protect yourself from any hazards that may exist. The only
>bad thing about MSDS's is that they are often hard to understand if you
>are non-technical and they may tell you FAR more than you ever wanted to
>know! But, it's a place to start. Your university has MSDS files somewhere,
>the hard part may be finding out who to ask for one.
> 
>If you can't find a copy on campus, just look on the container label and
>you can get the name and phone number of the manufacturer and call them
>for an MSDS. Manufacturers send out LOTS of these things, they'll mail
>or fax you one, no problem.
> 
>If you have questions after receiving the MSDS, there is an information
>number listed on it that you can call to talk to an expert on the product.
>BTW, you can even get an MSDS for ordinary household products. We have quite
>a few in our files from Home Depot, Sherwin Williams, etc.
> 
>IMHO, you should be OK to use all of those photographic fixers and 
>developers so long as you protect yourself from exposure by using them
>in a well ventilated area and wearing gloves. (That's good advice
>whether you're pregnant or not!)
> 
>I was going to email this, but thought it may be of general interest so
>posted it instead.
> 
>Mary Beth Northrup
>EMN002@email.mot.com
>(Mommy to Sean, 19 mo already!!)


This post has good timing.  I work at the University of Oklahoma in the Math
Department.  Our offices are next to some chemistry labs, and the chemistry
department is just down the hall.  All this week in the student newspaper,
there has been a serious of reports on the chemicals in our building and
asbestos all over campus.  I am 17 weeks pregnant, and on Tuesday I was sent 
home about 2:00 p.m. because the heat was off and you could smell the 
chemicals from the lab.  The chemicals smell like dead fish.  There was NO 
venilation and we have no windows anywhere on this floor.  This happens all 
the time.  If we can smell some of the chemicals, just think of the ones that
we can't smell.  I have been upset about this and was wondering if anyone else 
has had to deal with anything like this.

Stephanie Mudd
smudd@nsfuvax.math.uoknor.edu

Newsgroups: misc.kids