Pueblo Crafts and Healthy Lungs
Pueblo Crafts and Healthy Lungs
It is possible that some Pueblo crafts are hazardous to your healthy lungs. For example,
working with pottery for a long time can cause problems with normal breathing because
of dust inhalation. Also, many paints, lacquers, and jewelry supplies used for crafts
contain poisonous substances that can damage the lungs and other body parts. Often,
injury to the lungs from work with crafts can be minimized by changing how you do your
work. For example, by finishing a wet pot with a wet sponge instead of using sandpaper
on a dry pot, you can reduce the amount of dust in air.
If you can’t change your work method to reduce inhalation of dust or chemicals, perhaps
you can use better ventilation.
Ventilation:
Good ventilation that will protect you from breathing harmful dusts and chemicals can be
set up simply and cheaply by using a window fan blowing away from you. Set the
workbench by the window fan and open a second window. If possible, this second
window should be behind you and directly across the room from the window fan. If your
work is close enough to the window fan (1 to 2 feet), this setup should pull dusts and
chemicals away from you and your work.
If you are not able to work next to a window fan, simply opening windows and doors can
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Pueblo Crafts and Healthy Lungs
still help make your work place healthier. Doing this and wearing a respirator can provide
protection for your lungs.
Respirators:
A respirator is a mask that is worn over the nose and mouth. Most respirators work like
this—as the wearer breathes in, dirty air is drawn through a filter or cartridge and is
cleansed.
TYPES OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.
Only use respirators that are NIOSH–approved. [National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health] Several types of NIOSH–approved
respirators are available from hardware stores and safety supply
companies. A few types are discussed below.

THE DUST MASK: The dust mask is used most often since it is cheap, disposable
and widely available. This respirator is fitted with elastic bands that hold the mask to
the face. The entire mask is a filter and can clean dusty air.
This respirator also has three main problems:
(1) The dust mask is not effective for cleaning air of paint, lacquer, and other
chemical vapors.
(2) The mask is easily crushed and misshapen which makes the mask hard to fit to
the face. This can cause dusty air to leak into the mask.
(3) The elastic bands that are supposed to pull the mask tight to the face
sometimes stretch too far and allow the mask to leak air. So, it is important NOT to
use the dust mask for chemical vapors and to throw away the mask when it is
dirty or when it leaks air.
CAUTION: There is a mask type that resembles a NIOSH–approved dust mask
but is not made to protect lungs. This type is called the Comfort Mask and is
meant only to offer relief from pollen and other irritating nuisance dusts.
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Pueblo Crafts and Healthy Lungs

THE HALF–FACE RESPIRATOR: Often only safety supply companies carry this
versatile cartridge respirator. Cartridges can be mixed and matched to protect the
wearer from dusts, chemical vapors, or both at once.

THE FULL–FACE RESPIRATOR:
This respirator is much like the half–face respirator, except this one protects the wearer’s
eyes from contact with chemicals and dusts. Also, the full–face respirator is often easier
to fit to the face.
BEWARE:
Respirators that filter or clean air might not be adequate if the air is very heavily
contaminated with chemicals. Also, the types of respirators mentioned above do not
supply oxygen, so these are not to be used in an oxygen–poor area. If you ever smell a
chemical or feel strange while wearing your respirator, leave your work area immediately
and try to find out why the respirator is not working properly. There is a type of
respiratory protection available that supplies air to the user, but this type is expensive and
complicated to use safely.
PROPER CARE OF RESPIRATORS:
A leaking respirator can be more hazardous than not wearing a respirator at all!! This is
because the wearer might have a false sense of security while wearing the leaking
respirator. The wearer then might face a much higher concentration of chemical or dust
because of faith in the protection a respirator is supposed to provide.
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Pueblo Crafts and Healthy Lungs
Respirators must be clean and like–new to work correctly. Hands should be washed
before handling a respirator. A dirty respirator can allow air to leak and cause skin
problems. Dust masks must be thrown away when dirty. Half–face and full–face
respirators must be cleaned thoroughly and regularly. Gaskets and valves need inspection
and repair to work properly.
A respirator, regardless of its type, must be stored where it will remain clean—such as in
a clean plastic bag. Also, a respirator needs to be stored so that it retains its shape. Heavy
objects stored on or against a respirator can cause its shape to deform. This will cause air
to leak when the respirator is worn. When you buy a respirator, instructions should be
included that will tell you how to use, clean and store it properly.
This pamphlet was produced by P.S. Herring, CIH, Sandia National Laboratories. For further information
contact: Mary Ann Walz, Coordinator, Hazardous Materials Management, Program, Santa Fe Community
College, P.O. Box 4187, Santa Fe, NM 87502 Phone 505-438-1607 [information is not current]
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Pueblo Crafts and Healthy Lungs
Environment, Safety, and Health (ES&H) of Traditional Indian Artisans
and Craftspeople Project
2006 Note—this contact information is no longer valid
Project Sponsors:
Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc.
Environmental Office
P.O. Box 969
San Juan Pueblo, NM 87566-0969
M. Pamela Bumsted, Ph.D., Assoc. Director, (505-852-4265, fax 852-4835)
Leon H. Tafoya, Director
Northern New Mexico Community College
Northern Pueblos Institute
1002 North Oñate Street
Española, NM 87532
Karen S. Young, Coordinator, (505-747-2194, fax 741-2180)
Santa Fe Community College
Hazardous Materials Management Program
P.O. Box 4187
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Mary Ann Walz, Coordinator, (505-438-1607, fax 438-1237)
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Pueblo Crafts and Healthy Lungs
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 5800
Albuquerque, NM 87185-5800
Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing Technology Transfer and Training Initiative
(ECM T3I) Project
Robyn Stiefeld, Org. 6611, (505-844-5197, fax 844-0116)
Industrial Hygiene / Toxicology
Vicky A. Cibicid, Org. 7711, (505-844-2710, fax 844-1551)
Patrick S. Herring, Org. 7711, (505-845-7412, fax 845-3616)
Scott W. Stafford, Org. 7712, (505-844-9214, fax 844-1551)
Santa Clara Health Center
Community Health Programs
Environmental Health
Health Education
Community Health Nursing
Route 1, Box 446
Española, NM 87532
Eusebio Toyo, (505-753-9421)
This pamphlet was produced in 1994. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 543 Howard
Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
For further information, contact M. P. Bumsted, Ph.D. at
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