Curious where lead and mercury might be found in the darkrooms of traditional, alternative and historic processes. I know there are lots of harmful chemicals and metals, but wondering if these two are commonly found...
Thanks!
Curious where lead and mercury might be found in the darkrooms of traditional, alternative and historic processes. I know there are lots of harmful chemicals and metals, but wondering if these two are commonly found...
Thanks!
David Aimone Photography
Critiques always welcome...
Found some mercury thermometers in my local darkroom just last week.
I know my dad had a vial of mercury in his darkroom, but I have no recollection of what he used it for anymore. Its possible he just stored it there and didn't use it for photography.
If someone painted their darkroom before 1978 there could be lead paint.
I really don't know of these two being used in photography recently, much less being common. Is this just idle curiosity or is there a real question about it?
Daguerrotypes use mercury
Bruce Barlow
author of "Finely Focused" and "Exercises in Photographic Composition"
www.brucewbarlow.com
Lead: some old darkrooms - and chemistry labs - have lead sinks. There are also lead toners and some lead compounds were used with other metal toners. Some early colour processes used lead chromate to form the yellow image.
Mercury: used in Daguerreotypes. Mercury (II) chloride was used to intensify negatives. With wet plate emulsions it can give a positive look. It was also used in various toners and colour-forming processes.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NMJxyAwGvKcC
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xUCNBgAAQBAJ
http://www.conservation-wiki.com/wik...num,_Palladium
Mentions lead, mercury, uranium toning!
google search for "lead toning" mentions formulas for lead toning from the turn of the 20th century
http://www.getty.edu/conservation/pu...latinotype.pdf
Mentions lead, mercury, uranium and cesium!
Of course, hand coloring could have any variety of chemicals in the paints.
Nope, new house no lead paint; no mercury thermometers; ABS Delta plastic darkroom sink; don't do Daguerreotypes; no old thermometers;
So far so good, in the darkroom anyway!
David Aimone Photography
Critiques always welcome...
If you're worried about finding them in a modern darkroom, the most likely source would be mercury salts from a broken compact fluorescent bulb.
David Aimone Photography
Critiques always welcome...
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