Will The Eye Of The Epa Look Further At "art" Makers And What We Use?

[Guest JBaymore]

Interesting article.  Worth a read.  Has some potential resonance for those of us who produce a lot of work. 

 

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/03/epa_orders_nationwide_review_o.html

 

Years ago, here in NH, the FDA got a complaint from a single private individual about the use of lead in glazes on some handcrafted pottery made in the state.  VERY long story short... every NH Potters Guild member was investigated by the FDA ... and had to submit signed affidavits of disclosed production/sales levels by types of forms, and all of our glaze recipes.

 

Another one here in NH from 'the archives'..... EPA got called about a salt kiln by a neighbor.  Owner told them to basically "bug off".  Long story short again........ 'witch hunt' for salt kilns ensued.  Which is why there are almost no salt kilns in NH today.

 

We all need to watch this kind of stuff and do what we can to mitigate both the real impacts of what we do... and ALSO quite importantly the perceived impact with the public.

 

best,

 

...................john

[Mark C.]

Walk softly and have a big fence. Give your neighbors pots .

[bciskepottery]

And only fire when you are downwind. 

[glazenerd]

Nearest neighbor is almost 1/4 mile away- upwind!!

Is this the same EPA that dumped 5 million gallons of sphalerite (zinc ore) into a river in Colorado? Filled with sulfur, lead, and cadmium? The same EPA that said it had no environmental impact?

Nerd

[Foxden]

I do believe that we, as potters, have the potential of being serious polluters to land, air and water. We need to recognize that possible dangers are associated with materials we use and not carelessly dispose or misuse them. Clearly the extent of our pollution pales in comparison to large industries, but we should never the less make attempts to minimize our damage to the environment.

 

I for one, wouldn't want to live downwind or downstream from one of the glass producing plants described in the attachment.

[Marko]

I'm lead free as far as I know. What raw materials do we use that have lead? And how much is safe?  Gee-sh, we just can't win. Should I take up basket weaving?

[Marcia Selsor]

We use much more than lead. Thanks for posting , John.