What respiratory protection to use with color film chemicals

[MattKing]

I would never recommend against a physician (or other expert) mandated mask.
But I do believe that for some who have self-diagnosed, using a mask may give them a feeling of confidence that they might otherwise lack.
For me, the discomfort from the mask would discourage me greatly.

 

[erian]

Thanks to everybody for their concern and for useful information.

I for sure will consult my doctor. My inquiry here is not about if I should or should not do the darkroom work but about effective measures to limit my but more importantly my family exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals.

What has possibly not well explained is my concern about the risk of surface contamination. I consider this as largest risk because its effect will last after the direct exposure.

My experience is that it is very difficult to contain particulate matter and it tends to easily stick to surfaces. So I would expect buildup. One possible solution would to place a HEPA filter before the exhaust but I am afraid that handling the filter later will again make some particles airborne.

I do not have experience with vapors because to know the result one would have to make tests and this is not in my capacity.

Is there risk of buildup with vapors at the points were the vapor will flow over an surface as described on the picture?

 

[darkroommike]

It also needs to be said, no face mask will properly fit if you have a beard. I watched a mountain man show off how fast he could get into a gas mask and nearly died laughing. http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/463742O/facial-hair-and-respirators.pdf

 

[MattKing]

What sort of quantity and frequency of use are you considering?
If you are speaking about hobbiest quantities - mostly no more than a 2-4 hours every week - then normal caution and regular cleanup should be more than enough to protect you.
The chemicals and their residues are designed to be safe to use in industrial quantities and settings, as long as reasonably easy and inexpensive protective steps are taken. With much less frequent and intensive use, normal and prudent care should be fine.

 

[dmr]

As with all photochemistry, using a good exhaust fan is a good practice.

I do the Jobo stuff on the kitchen counter. I always run the range hood blower and the ceiling exhaust blower just in case.

 

[AgX]

My experience is that it is very difficult to contain particulate matter and it tends to easily stick to surfaces. So I would expect buildup. One possible solution would to place a HEPA filter before the exhaust but I am afraid that handling the filter later will again make some particles airborne.

I do not have experience with vapors because to know the result one would have to make tests and this is not in my capacity.

Is there risk of buildup with vapors at the points were the vapor will flow over an surface as described on the picture?

As long as you only buy concentrartes there will be no particles. In theory at least the vapours may condense, but then there would be a liquid film, not particles.

To get particles in the air you would need to boil the processing baths, By this droplets are formed, which by evapoaring may release salts.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I do the Jobo stuff on the kitchen counter. I always run the range hood blower and the ceiling exhaust blower just in case.

+1

 

[mklw1954]

I would start with my doctor and ask if there are general classes of or specific chemicals known to cause or aggravate your condition, and provide him the Safety Data Sheets for the chemicals you are using. Occupational doctors specialize in causes of disease due to chemical exposures in the workplace and might be better for this than your general practitioner. However, in my experience with a neurological condition I would be surprised if such specific information exists. If any of these chemicals could or are known to cause or aggravate your condition, decide either not to take the risk or take the next step and get professional advice on personal protective equipment (respiratory protection) and how to ventilate to provide significant reduction in exposure.

Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs) deal with chemical exposure issues (allowable exposures) and mitigation methods (respiratory protection, ventilation, etc.). I worked with CIHs for support with aspects of my work as an Environmental Engineer. Although they usually deal with daily commercial and industrial worker exposure applications, you may be able to find one who will consult with you on this periodic home application. It would be ideal if you could find one experienced with commercial film and print processing facilities. In the U.S., they utilize OSHA standards to determine how long one can work in the expected atmosphere without or with personal protective equipment and ventilation. They may find exposure is insignificant but your condition could be a complicating factor and the standards may not be protective.

It appears the best advice a CIH could provide would be on how to ventilate the space to significantly reduce exposure and then apply a healthy factor of safety. Even then, if you are extremely sensitive to anything remaining after "significant reductions", it could be a problem. Another aspect favoring ventilation over filters is that filters have a certain capacity before "breakthrough" and one would need to know when to replace the cartridges, which is dependent on the concentrations of the different chemicals, which you will not know without monitoring your airspace, and the capacity of the cartridges.

Just my thoughts on how to think of this in a logical, detailed way. I admire your desire to develop film, normally considered a pretty safe activity with just a few precautions, given the potential unknowns due to your condition. Good luck.

 

[AgX]

In the U.S., they utilize OSHA standards to determine how long one can work in the expected atmosphere without or with personal protective equipment and ventilation.

For quite some vapour concentrations of the typical hazardous substances in processing baths do not even exist limiting values over here nor in the USA.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Organic vapor filters, whether in respirators or non-ducted fume hoods, rely on activated carbon. These clog up relatively quickly. It gets expensive. I don't trust many occupational doctors. Lots of stories about them in any typical industrial setting. We called em horse doctors. But MSDS sheets should always be read.

 

[AgX]

MSDS for typical processing compounds are not specific on vapours.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Yes, MSDS sheets list vapor hazards, but not hypothetical acceptable concentration levels. If you need that kind of data for a mere home darkroom, you're being careless to begin with; and no such person is likely to own the correct measurement instrumentation anyway. Here we have both EPA for general environmental concerns, and OSHA for workplace specific safety issue. Both are highly understaffed and can address only a very small percent of violations. Home darkrooms aren't even on their radar. But I have known a lot of artiste types who have gotten even more seriously poisoned over the long run than industrial chemists or maintenance employees. Not a pretty sight. Ordinary black and white chemistry associated with silver gelatin printing can produce respiratory irritation if not properly vented, along with skin rashes, particularly from metol, if gloves are not used. Some of us also use potentially poisonous developers like pyro. Color chemistry increases these kinds of risks. Then there are certain alt processes that deserve even greater care due to toxic ingredients or highly flammable solvents. And as far as using a drum developer in the kitchen, well, most of us can recall the childhood rhyme, "Johnnie was a chemist, but Johnnie is no more; for what he thought was H2O was H2SO4".