Air Quality Testing for lampworking

We found this information on the Zoozii's webpage and thought it would be great to share with our readers.  By the way, if you are new to lampworking, check out the Zoozii's page, they are the only presses we use in our Harrach Glass lampworking studio!

As a small business in NH, with at least 1 employee, I was eligible for work place environmental testing. I had the testing done in my studio, which has a standard kitchen Oven Stove Hood placed 3 feet above my work space. Make up air is accessed through an open widow directly behind me, which is on the opposite side of the building form my ventilation. The building is approximately 18 ft square. I was tested for 70 minutes while I lampworked. During which time I was connected to small machines that took air in at a normal breathing rate. They were collecting samples of the air particles, that were then sent to the lab and tested for the following Fumes, Dusts and Acids:

Metal Fumes:
Aluminum
Cadmium
Chromium
Cobalt
Copper Fume
Iron Oxide Fume
Lead
Magnesium Oxide Fume
Molybdenum
Nickel
Silver
Zinc Oxide

Respirable Dust:
Mica
Silica

Acid Screen:
Hydrogen Bromide
Hydrogen Chloride
Hydrogen Flouride
Nitric Acid
Phosphoric Acid
Sulfuric Acid

None of the above were detected in any level

Then a swab swipe was conducted on my work surface (which was not cleaned prior to the test).

Metal: Wipe Result:
Aluminum 64
Barium 5
Cadmium 2
Chromium ND (none detected)
Cobalt <0.5
Copper 11
Gold ND
Iron <25
Lead 9
Manganese <1
Nickel <2
Zinc <15

The results are in micrograms (ug) per wipe. There are not current OSHA Limits for metal wipes. Levels should be kept as low as possible to prevent accidental ingestion of contaminants.

Carbon Monoxide was monitored using and Industrial Scientific CO262 meter. No CO was detected during the visit.

NOX was not tested which was an oversight, as it is a product of combustion.  

These tests were performed by The State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

Suggestions Made for Safety:

Because lead was found in the wipe, even though the amount was small, I was recommended to be cautious for Lead. The best defense against Lead exposure is cleanliness. 

• Clean workspace with a detergent-based cleaner. 
• Minimize ingestion hazards, by being sure to wash  hands and face prior to eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics. 
• Lead competes with Calcium for gastrointestinal absorption, for this reason be sure that your calcium intake is optimal.  Check with your doctor about what would insure that level is where it needs to be. Your overall health is a determining factor in how easily your body absorbs environmental lead.
• Have your lead levels checked. There are two different tests that can determine your levels and exposure. One tests long term exposure, and possible build up, and one tests for your short term or recent exposure. Both are good to have, but they require different tubes of blood, and not all labs keep both tubes on hand. So be sure to communicate with your doctor clearly about your concerns and your testing desires. 

I did have both lead tests done, and I had no concern able levels of Lead in my system. I was told by the doctor that everyone "processes" lead differently, and that many factors play into how your body handles the substance and how it removes the substance from your body. It is important to talk to you doctor about these factors. I also had my blood tested for a battery of heavy metals, as I use Silver frequently, without a mask, as well as enamels, and a lot of frit. No concerning levels of Heavy Metals were detected in my blood.

Just because my situation seems relatively safe, does not mean yours does, too. This information is meant to give you a place to start, if you are trying to find out what possible health concerns are occurring while you are melting glass. You should be in communication with your doctor to be sure you are doing everything you can to stay healthy for years to come. I hope you have found this helpful.

Many people have contacted me regarding the safety of torching and pregnancy.  I am not a Doctor, or a Scientist, so I can not answer this as any professional in the field.  I can only share with you my opinion, as it relates to the information I had available, and my situation.  I believed that the fetus can not be exposed to anything that I'm not exposed to.  Since my exposure to heavy metals and lead had not shown up in my system, when tested, or showed themselves to be of concern in the testing, I felt that torching during my pregnancy was acceptable.  This is not a recommendation, simply a sharing of what I decided for myself.  Please talk to your doctor before making any decisions about the health of your unborn babe!

BE SAFE!!