Brown hands from developer

BetterSense · Nov 24, 2009

Since I've been developing film in trays, my fingers are quite brown-stained. I don't have any discomfort or reaction, other than the cosmetic brown-staining. I'm not concerned about the appearance, but I'm only worried about the long-term health effects of touching film developer. Is this bad for me?

Richard Wasserman · Nov 24, 2009

Think thin Nitrile gloves–why take a chance?

Jon Shiu · Nov 24, 2009

Best to wear gloves, so as not to develop an allergy. See "allergic contact dermatitis".

Jon

steven_e007 · Nov 24, 2009

Most of the old photographic formula books I have include remedies and ointments for dermatitis, I believe it was very common in the days of dish developement and before thin gloves were available!

railwayman3 · Nov 24, 2009

I'd go along with using gloves, or at least avoiding contact.

I once had dermatitis (not from photo chemicals, but still not nice) and I remember being told that someone can use a chemical or product without problem for many years with no issues, then an allergy can develop unexpectedly. Apparently the "patch tests", used to identify the causes, includes one for photo chemicals and developers.....they were one of a long list of substances which I was asked about.

Photo Engineer · Nov 24, 2009

Under normal conditions of lab work, it is very unusual for a developer of the MQ or PQ or AA type to stain hands. You are just not in the solution long enough when developing film or prints. OTOH, a staining developer such as a Pyro developer will stain hands rapidly. This is not to say that the other types will not, just that under normal conditions they do not.

If your hands are stained, you are not cleaning them well or you are really soaking in the developer or you are using a staining developer. Any of these can lead to some rather nasty dermatitis down the road. Take care and wear gloves.

Or, use tank development.

PE

Roger Thoms · Nov 24, 2009

Richard Wasserman said:
Think thin Nitrile gloveswhy take a chance?

My thoughts.

Roger

WolfTales · Nov 24, 2009

Turning different colors is bad.

IE:
Turning brown is bad.
Turning yellow is bad.
Turning green is bad.
Turning blue is bad.

Etc.

Use gloves. Tongs. Anything that prevents contact with chemicals. You'll be thanking yourself down the road. Now I know I used to say that using protection was for wimps - but trust me - dermatitis is not something you want to mess with.

BetterSense · Nov 24, 2009

I'm using D23 and not developing a terribly lot, just nearly every day for a sheet or two, constantly flipping the sheets in the trays.

WolfTales · Nov 24, 2009

Bad!

Bad!

Bad!

Most photographic chemicals are slow poisons and not compatible with your health.

Allen Friday · Nov 24, 2009

Go to Sams or Costco and buy gloves in bulk. They come out to around 3 cents each. Is it worth 6 cents not to have brown hands and to be free from worry about long term problems? It is to me.

fschifano · Nov 24, 2009

I use a tank for film processing, and tongs for prints in trays. The tank is not practical for only a sheet or two of film 'cause it uses too much chemistry. Tongs are not good for sheet film because you risk damaging the negative - and besides you can't see what you're doing most times. If you insist on developing only a sheet or two at a time, get the gloves; or batch them up and use a tank.

Vincent Brady · Nov 24, 2009

Brown hands can also be acquired from scratching your behind. Now you don't want people to be thinking that. Get those gloves.

Cheers
TEX
PS You won't be offended if I don't offer to shake your hand.

MartinP · Nov 24, 2009

WolfTales said:
Bad!

Most photographic chemicals are slow poisons and not compatible with your health.

Please note, this is simply not really correct. Consult the manufacturers safety sheets for the less alarming actual information.

That said, using nitrile gloves removes skin from contact with the liquids that can eventually cause an allergic reaction so this is a sensible step. I also use (latex) gloves when using engine degreaser, or even oven cleaner. This does not mean they are lethal.

WolfTales · Nov 24, 2009

Sigh.

Chemicals are bad.

It should indeed be alarming.

Now we aren't talking about Collateralized Mortgage Obligations - you know - and nobody was alarmed by those.

Alexander Ghaffari · Nov 24, 2009

It's true, I have been trying to get the deadliest chemical known to humans banned for years...dihydrogen monoxide. One day, the US Congress will ban this killer. How dare companies knowingly expose their employees, including myself, to something that kills untold human beings everyday.

MartinP · Nov 24, 2009

Alexander Ghaffari said:
It's true, I have been trying to get the deadliest chemical known to humans banned for years...dihydrogen monoxide. One day, the US Congress will ban this killer. How dare companies knowingly expose their employees, including myself, to something that kills untold human beings everyday.

Hee hee hee. How many non-chemists will understand that ?

What is worse is that it even falls from the sky occasionally ! How terrible is that ?

jeffreyg · Nov 24, 2009

Nitrile gloves. If the chemistry is bad for fish it can't be good for you. Be careful of residue on the gloves which can cause cross contamination of something else you might touch. Of course film holders aren't a bad idea either.

WolfTales · Nov 24, 2009

Sigh.

Chemicals are bad.

Use gloves.

DanielStone · Nov 24, 2009

Alexander Ghaffari said:
It's true, I have been trying to get the deadliest chemical known to humans banned for years...dihydrogen monoxide. One day, the US Congress will ban this killer. How dare companies knowingly expose their employees, including myself, to something that kills untold human beings everyday.

love this. asked some of my friends this question, and they said that it should be banned. then one of them proceeded to pour himself a glass of "water"

-Dan

WolfTales · Nov 24, 2009

Use goggles while your at it.

David Brown · Nov 24, 2009

WolfTales said:
Sigh.

Chemicals are bad.

Sigh.

I suggest you stop using ALL chemicals immediately! I mean ALL!!!

clayne · Nov 24, 2009

PE: Can built up iodide in film developers used repeatedly contribute to iodine's predictable staining of the skin or is it just not even the same thing?

RalphLambrecht · Nov 24, 2009

BetterSense said:
Since I've been developing film in trays, my fingers are quite brown-stained. I don't have any discomfort or reaction, other than the cosmetic brown-staining. I'm not concerned about the appearance, but I'm only worried about the long-term health effects of touching film developer. Is this bad for me?

BetterSense <<<

Please read what it says on the tin and consult the MSDS.
Why not use tongs or gloves?
Don't take a risk.

BetterSense · Nov 24, 2009

Please read what it says on the tin and consult the MSDS.

There is no tin, since it's scratch D23. Sodium sulfite doesn't seem to be bad, and metol just said that there could be an allergic reaction to skin contact in certain individuals.

I thought that developing film in trays was a long and glorious tradition--a friend, who is a toxicologist by trade, insisted that film developer was perfectly fine to touch. He didn't say anything about it turning your hands brown, though. I'm not having any discomfort whatsoever, and my wife doesn't care. I bought some finger cots but they are too small for my fat fingers, and I might be doing tank processing soon anyway since I just got some film hangers from a very generous APUG member.

Brown hands from developer

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