How important is ventillation?

Eggsarefantastic · Aug 16, 2015

Hey all!

I've been developing and printing in my basement for a few months now. During the winter months, it was pretty comfortable. Recently, it's been pretty warm. On two separate occasions, I've felt some strange sensations on my tongue. The first was with a friend; our tongues felt a little numb on the sides. And again today, my entire tongue felt a little weak. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I be concerned, or could it just be in our heads? (Ilfosol 3, rapid fixer)

Wayne · Aug 17, 2015

You need good ventilation. I don't know if your tongue will go numb but other unpleasant things may happen, like sickness, respiratory problems or sensitization. It doesn't matter if you are in a basement or a attic.

MattKing · Aug 17, 2015

Ventilation is important whether or not you are using the room as a Darkroom.

flash26c · Aug 17, 2015

Well, It never bothered jktodls;gkre'kt'

AgX · Aug 17, 2015

A german guideline for commercial photolabs indicates a 8x air-volume exchange per hour as necessary.

jamespierce · Aug 17, 2015

What they said ! Ideally you draw air out above your sink, with the incoming air being on the other side of the room at a different height to encourage circulation. 8-10x per hour is a typically quoted figure to aim for. In my view if you notice chemical smells it's not enough ... Even when I tone selenium I only smell it when pouring fresh into a tray.

railwayman3 · Aug 17, 2015

Wayne said:
You need good ventilation. I don't know if your tongue will go numb but other unpleasant things may happen, like sickness, respiratory problems or sensitization. It doesn't matter if you are in a basement or a attic.

Definitely. You really need decent ventilation whenever you're in a closed room indoors, not only in a darkroom situation. I personally find that just general stuffiness in an ordinary room, with the increased carbon dioxide from normal respiration, is enough to bring on headaches, and a general yuck feeling.

removed account4 · Aug 17, 2015

numbness isn't good ?
my whole body has numb
for about 30 years. my darkroom is
ventilated, buy my water is green
and kind of smokes and glows in the red light.

:w00t:

Jim Jones · Aug 17, 2015

Sensitivity to chemicals, either by contact or air-born, varies widely between individuals. I've worked long hours in unventilated darkrooms with no problems, but don't advise it for anyone. Certainly any physical signs of distress should be taken seriously. In the days of Daguerreotypes, some photographers died from mercury fumes. Several years ago I knew one modern Daguerreotypist who suspected his progressive disability was mercury related.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 17, 2015

Eggsarefantastic said:
Hey all!

I've been developing and printing in my basement for a few months now. During the winter months, it was pretty comfortable. Recently, it's been pretty warm. On two separate occasions, I've felt some strange sensations on my tongue. The first was with a friend; our tongues felt a little numb on the sides. And again today, my entire tongue felt a little weak. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I be concerned, or could it just be in our heads? (Ilfosol 3, rapid fixer)

sounds like STDs could be an issue

mklw1954 · Aug 17, 2015

It is important and I think especially so when using color chemicals (C41 and RA4). The only time I've ever felt some sensation was from RA4 developer but covering the bottles and the waste bucket used to contain spent chemicals, in addition to the ventilation, eliminated the sensation.

This reference includes photo darkrooms: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-change-rate-room-d_867.html and recommends 10-15 air exchanges per hour. But this might be for commercial darkrooms and around 8 might be fine at home.

Ko.Fe. · Aug 17, 2015

I do print in the basement. It has normal ventilation (like in the rest of the house) and I also keep one of the window slightly open.
No tongue issues even with friend

MartinP · Aug 17, 2015

The tongues, whether affected or not, are indeed in ones head - although possibly you could argue that they start in the neck?

If in doubt, read the safety information for the chemicals you are using which pretty much always mention "good ventilation" somwhere. Standard black-and-white chemicals are fairly innocuous but as well as breathing things in absorption through the skin is also possible, so use nitrile gloves (not latex) as that will reduce inadvertent skin-contact with solutions.

Sirius Glass · Aug 17, 2015

Ventilation is important whether or not you are using the room as a darkroom. And you need good ventilation in a darkroom.

DREW WILEY · Aug 18, 2015

Yeah. You should be concerned. Your body is trying to tell you something. Adequate ventilation is a MUST in ANY darkroom if you care about
your long-term health.

RobC · Aug 18, 2015

You're not meant to put your tongue in the chemicals.

Bob Carnie · Aug 18, 2015

Not even to check the temp?

RobC said:
You're not meant to put your tongue in the chemicals.

DREW WILEY · Aug 18, 2015

When your tongue starts "tasting" the chem simply via vapors, it means you're starting to get sensitized to something. Eventually you can get hypersensitized to it. Long-term damage can also occur to your lungs without it being highly noticeable. Some of you will really regret it in a decade or two or three. I've seen more than my fair share of basket-case "artistes" that thought their work was more valuable than their health. Talk to some respiratory specialists in the medical field or ER types. They might change your mind about being macho with chemicals.
Even black and white chemicals can get your respiratory system inflamed over time, with a lot of time required to heal it. Argue if you must with your usual click-it Wickipedia nonsense answers; but I'd recommend Sickepeidia instead!

RobC · Aug 18, 2015

Bob Carnie said:
Not even to check the temp?

You can use a digit to measure the temp but don't suck it afterwards.

DREW WILEY · Aug 19, 2015

Is that what they mean by a "digital thermometer", Rob?

Adrian Twiss · Aug 19, 2015

In addition to all the excellent advice given in the previous posts there are some chemical processes (such as sulphide sepia toning) that not only leave a very unpleasant persistent odour but will also fog any unexposed papers and film with their vapours.

Mainecoonmaniac · Aug 19, 2015

Yes it's very important. If you don't care about your health, think about what people will think when you use that sulphury smelling sepia toner in your unventilated darkroom and you can't blame the dog

DREW WILEY · Aug 19, 2015

And rust half your equipment. I can always tell when someone has kept their enlarger in a poorly ventilated darkroom. I don't even believe
in using equipment in the same room as the sink, let alone storing film or paper in there! I realize not everyone has the same luxury, with
separate spaces. But it does make a difference.

DREW WILEY · Aug 19, 2015

As far a sulfurous smells go, I always get the blame, even when the cat is sitting there with a big grin.

pentaxuser · Aug 19, 2015

The tongue numbness is a new one on me as a symptom and it seems new to all the responders here and yet over the years this subject with possible symptoms has been thoroughly exercised or is that exorcised?

pentaxuser

How important is ventillation?

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