What are the issues?
Some glasses do contain small amounts of heavy metals -- in order to give glasses their rich, deep colors. In general, the presence of heavy metals at certain levels has been linked to environmental and health issues. In the United States, glass manufacturers or mass-producers of glass are meant to follow USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency https://www3.epa.gov/) and state regulations regarding air emissions.
Government Regulations
The governmental regulations are established to prevent harm to human health and the environments. For more information on safety while working with glass/heating glass you may wish to consult the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (https://www.osha.gov/), National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/), or the Environmental Protection Agency (https://www3.epa.gov/).
For further reading:
- Henley, Vince. “Studio Safety: Hazardous Substances and Alphabet Soup.” The Glass Bead, v. 16 [i.e. 15], issue 2 (Spring 2008), pp. 26-27, ill. Notes: International Society of Glass Beadmakers. Terminology used to describe levels of toxicity.
- Henley, Vince. “Studio Safety: Part Two: Hazardous Substances and Alphabet Soup.” The Glass Bead, v. 15, issue 3 (Summer 2008), pp. 26-27, ill. Notes: International Society of Glass Beadmakers. Discussion of three related concepts: toxicity, hazard, and risk.
- Henley, Vince. “Studio Safety: Part Three: Hazardous Substances and Alphabet Soup.” The Glass Bead, v. 15, issue 4 (Autumn 2008), pp. 34-35, ill. Notes: International Society of Glass Beadmakers. Topics include coating, copper, palladium, enamels, sodium bicarbonate, and scavo.
- Henley, Vince. “Studio Safety: Respirators Revisited.” The Glass Bead, v. 17, issue 2 (Spring 2010), pp. 22-23, ill. Notes: International Society of Glass Beadmakers. Also includes explanation of airborne hazards.
- "Lead, arsenic & chrome emitted by glass furnaces." ACTS Facts. v. 11, no. 6, June 1997, p. 4. Notes: Additional info: Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety.
- Schwabach, Deborah. “Health and Safety: The Fine Art of Pollution Prevention." The Firing Line. Fall/Winter 1996, pp. 10-13. Notes: Additional info: Orton Firing Institute, Westerville, OH.
- Simmons, Robert. “Safety and Soft Glass: Heavy Metals.” The Glass Bead, v. 18, issue 1 (Winter 2011), pp. 7-9+, ill. Notes: International Society of Glass Beadmakers. Health effects of working with metals and metallic compounds.
Borrowing Library Materials
If you wish to borrow copies of library items, please contact your local library. The Rakow Research Library will lend designated books from its collection and will send copies of articles requested by other libraries. Your library can request items through the OCLC WorldShare Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system or by direct request through email at ill@cmog.org. For more information, please see our ILL policies and procedures.
Please don't hesitate to contact us with your glass-related questions in the future!
