stone sculpture and being pregnate

[Lenore]

Just a quick question: does working with stone present any potential problems with fetal develoment? Whilst there is plenty of infomation on toxins in paints, there doesn't seem to be any info about minerals in stone, and how dangerous they may be. I've been owrking primary with soapstone (Montana type) and alabaster and Hopton Wood limestone, but also would like to begin a marble sculpure soon-ish. Any answers?

Thanks.

[dondougan]

Hi Lenore,

Not a physician or scientist, but there doesn't seem to me be any likelihood of any problem chemically. The dust for the soapstone you mention might not be the best thing to breathe as free silica dust can cause silicosis (lung-tissue scarring), but the only way the dust can enter your body is through your respiratory system, and a good respirator will take care of that.

Gypsum alabaster is relatively harmless, but obviously you don't want to breathe it. The safety data is here:
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/c0495.htm
Limestone (calcium carbonate) is non-toxic and inert — it is what your bones are made of . . . howeever, here is a MSDS for limestone:
http://www.martinmarietta.com/Products/MSDS-Limestone.pdf

But if you are worried then my opinion is to simply not carve while pregnant — the very real psychological fear/worry is probably going to have more effect on your body-chemistry (and your unborn) as anything in the stone.

Don

www.dondougan.com

[thaddeus]

There could be trace elements of heavy metals in any or all of the above stones. Probably best to avoid carving until baby comes out.