PYROCATECHOL QUESTION

Philippe-Georges · May 19, 2007

I am about to try the Warm Tone Pyro Developer for Paper as posted by Kino (10-29-06).
But I am not sure about the health hazards from working with Pyrocatechol in an tray as it is open en easily evaporates.
A Nova Slot is not really an option.
Any remarks?

Thank You,
Philippe

Tom Hoskinson · May 19, 2007

No problems with Pyrocatechol when it is in an aqueous solution. No problems with its close chemical relative, Hydroquinone, either.

Avoid breathing the dry dust of either chemical, however. Read the Material Safety Data Sheets.

PhotoJim · May 19, 2007

Pyrocatechin and pyrogallol are easily absorbed by the skin, too, so be sure to wear waterproof gloves when you use these developers.

Use normal and prudent care and you should be fine.

Metol is pretty nasty stuff too and we don't think twice about it (and we probably should). Hydroquinone is even worse.

Tom Hoskinson · May 19, 2007

PhotoJim said:
Pyrocatechin and pyrogallol are easily absorbed by the skin, too, so be sure to wear waterproof gloves when you use these developers.

Use normal and prudent care and you should be fine.

Metol is pretty nasty stuff too and we don't think twice about it (and we probably should). Hydroquinone is even worse.

I wear Nitrile gloves when working with all wet photochemistry.

Philippe-Georges · May 20, 2007

Thank you all for the swift answering!
I already banned metol and hydrochinone out of my darkroom years ago.
I just hope not to have substututed the one problem for an other...

Philippe

jim appleyard · May 20, 2007

leicam5 said:
Thank you all for the swift answering!
I already banned metol and hydrochinone out of my darkroom years ago.
I just hope not to have substututed the one problem for an other...

Philippe

In a way, you have. All darkroom chems are bad, perhaps to different degrees, but all bad. Even salt (reported to be in Microdol-X) is bad in large amounts. Water, a darkroom chem itself, can kill you if you drink enough of it.

If you use common sense, good chem proof gloves, a dust mask and mix your chems outside, you're pretty safe.

There are lots of bad things all around us every day and we don't think a thing of them. I wouldn't let a bit of darkroom chemistry worry you.

Philippe-Georges · May 20, 2007

Dear Jim,

I wonder if d***l is not worse, bad for the nerves, eyes, back, forefinger, and wallet...

Philippe

jim appleyard · May 20, 2007

leicam5 said:
Dear Jim,

I wonder if d***l is not worse, bad for the nerves, eyes, back, forefinger, and wallet...

Philippe

I do very little digital; no digital camera, no printing, just scanning negs for cd's and email, but it doesn't do my posture any good sitting in a chair watching a screen.

gainer · May 20, 2007

jim appleyard said:
In a way, you have. All darkroom chems are bad, perhaps to different degrees, but all bad. Even salt (reported to be in Microdol-X) is bad in large amounts. Water, a darkroom chem itself, can kill you if you drink enough of it.

If you use common sense, good chem proof gloves, a dust mask and mix your chems outside, you're pretty safe.

There are lots of bad things all around us every day and we don't think a thing of them. I wouldn't let a bit of darkroom chemistry worry you.

"Water, a darkroom chem itself, can kill you if you drink enough of it. " It's even worse if you inhale it.
You should look at the table of contents on cosmetics and medicine bottles. Hair dye also. Many patent medicines and the like have chemicals that you also encounter in the darkroom. Some of us even develop film in coffee, others in Tylenol.

PYROCATECHOL QUESTION

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