Having Your Glaze Tested for Toxic Metal Release
Section: Materials, Subsection: Safety
Description
Having Your Glaze Tested for Metal Release
Article
We are beginning to compile a list of companies that offer testing services or devices. A lab does not test ceramic glazes for "food safeness"; they only determine how much of a given metal leaches out under standardized test conditions. It is your responsibility to ask them to check for the right the metal(s), evaluate the accuracy they claim, and determine what 'safe levels' are. If you don't feel qualified to evaluate the results yourself, then ask an industrial toxicologist such as Monona Rossol. In the absence of legal standards for "food safeness" (with the exception of lead and cadmium) Monona recommends we use drinking water standards as a safe-side limit. However there are not drinking water standards for all the materials we use.
Having Your Glaze Tested for Metal Release at Alfred University Labs
John Hesselberth has done much valuable work in studying limit formulas and and helping people see the importance of leach testing. He has formed a good relationship with Roland at Alfred University Analytical Labs. The following is a summary of information John makes available at http://www.frogpondpottery.com/glazetest.html.
Make a small cup (mug size or smaller) and glaze it and fire it at your standard conditions (put a cone beside it). Send the cup to Dr. Roland Hale, Director, Alfred Analytical Laboratory, 4964 Kenyon Road, Alfred Station, NY 14803. Enclose a letter specifying what metal to test for and a check (U.S. funds) based on the following fees:
- $10 fee per sample to do the acetic acid extraction
- Add $10 for each metal you want analyzed
If you want your samples returned there is an additional fee for shipping and handling of $15 per order. If you send multiple samples make sure they are well labeled. This laboratory is a New York State approved Environmental Testing Laboratory and your report will come on letterhead stating that.
While there is no requirement that you send the glaze composition or firing conditions, they would appreciate it if you would. They are bound by state law to keep the information you send confidential. However, Dr. Hale is developing a data base of the samples tested and will try to extract from that information which will be useful to potters in developing leach resistant glazes. He can do this on a unity formula basis while still maintaining confidentiality of specific recipes. Call the laboratory at 607-478-8074 or fax at 607-478-5324 if you have questions.
HybriVet Systems Inc have kits for lead, barium, chromate, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, iron, and mercury.
P.O. Box 1210, Framingham MA 01701 1-800-262-5323
Information on Heavy Metal Poisoning: http://www.derglanderhaus.com/odyssey
Links to Other Items
- Are Your Glazes Food Safe or are They Leachable?
- Overview of Material Safety by Gavin Stairs
- Health & Safety Information Sources
- Attack on Glass: Corrosion Attack Mechanisms
Authors
- Tony Hansen (Owner)
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