Lead Transfer Risk from Handling Ceramics with Deteriorated Lead Glazes

ABSTRACT

The risks of lead transferring to gloves while handling lead-glazed ceramics was evaluated with simple empirical tests using Plumbtesmo test strips. Five lead-glazed ceramics from the Harvard Art Museums, three with deteriorated glazes and two with glazes in good condition, were evaluated along with three controls. The objects and controls were handled using three interaction types (touch and hold, tapping, and rubbing); the presence of lead on gloves was then evaluated using Plumbtesmo test strips. The experiment demonstrated that ceramics with deteriorated lead glazes have the potential to transfer lead to gloves during handling. Collections care staff working with lead glazed ceramics are advised to take precautions during handling and uphold best practices for hygiene to minimize lead exposure.

RÉSUMÉ

Les risques de transférer du plomb sur les gants lors de la manipulation de céramiques à glaçure plombifère ont été évalués par de simples tests empiriques, avec des bandelettes-tests Plumbtesmo. Cinq céramiques avec des glaçures au plomb appartenant aux Harvard Art Museums dont trois avec des glaçures altérées et deux avec des glaçures saines, ont été évaluées ainsi que trois objets de contrôle. Les objets testés et les objets-contrôles ont été manipulés selon trois types d'interactions (toucher et tenir / tapoter / frotter) ; la présence de plomb sur les gants a ensuite été évaluée avec des bandelettes-tests Plumbtesmo. L'expérience a prouvé que les céramiques dont les glaçures plombifères sont altérées peuvent potentiellement transférer du plomb à des gants pendant une manipulation. Il est recommandé que les professionnels des musées ou de la conservation-restauration travaillant avec des céramiques à glaçure plombifère prennent certaines précautions lors des manipulations et suivent des règles d'hygiène afin de minimiser leur exposition au plomb. Traduit par Claire Cuyaubère.

RESUMEN

Os riscos da transferência de chumbo para luvas durante o manuseio de cerâmicas vitrificadas com chumbo foram avaliados com testes empíricos simples usando tiras de teste Plumbtesmo. Cinco cerâmicas vitrificadas com chumbo dos Museus de Arte de Harvard, três com esmaltes deteriorados e duas com esmaltes em bom estado, foram avaliadas juntamente com três controles. Os objetos e controles foram manipulados por meio de três tipos de interação (tocar e segurar, bater e esfregar); a presença de chumbo nas luvas foi então avaliada utilizando-se tiras teste Plumbtesmo. O experimento demonstrou que cerâmicas com esmaltes de chumbo deteriorados têm o potencial de transferir chumbo para luvas durante o manuseio. Os cuidadores de coleções que trabalham com cerâmicas vitrificadas com chumbo são aconselhados a tomar precauções durante o manuseio e manter as melhores práticas de higiene para minimizar a exposição ao chumbo. Traduzido por Francisco Vieira; revisão por Beatriz Haspo

RESUMEN

Los riesgos de transferencia de plomo a los guantes durante la manipulación de la cerámica vidriada con plomo se evaluaron con pruebas empíricas simples utilizando tiras de prueba Plumbtesmo. Se evaluaron cinco cerámicas vidriadas con plomo de los Museos de Arte de Harvard, tres con vidriados deteriorados y dos con vidriados en buenas condiciones, junto con tres controles. Los objetos y controles se manipularon utilizando tres tipos de interacción (tocar y sostener, golpear ligeramente y frotar); luego se evaluó la presencia de plomo en los guantes mediante pruebas de Plumbtesmo. El experimento demostró que las cerámicas con vidriados de plomo deteriorados tienen el potencial de transferir plomo a los guantes durante su manipulación. Se recomienda al personal de manejo y cuidado de colecciones que trabaja con cerámica vidriada con plomo, que tome precauciones durante la manipulación y respete las buenas prácticas de higiene para minimizar la exposición al plomo. Traducción y revisión: Soledad Tancoff y David Cohen; revisión final: Amparo Rueda e Irene Delaveris.

KEYWORDS:

• Lead
• ceramics
• glaze
• lead-glazed ceramics
• handling
• gloves
• health and safety

Acknowledgments

Sincere thanks to Dr. Celia Chari, Beal Family Postgraduate Fellow in Conservation Science at the Harvard Art Museums, for performing XRF analysis, Kerith Koss Schrager for her guidance on lead regulations, the AIC Health & Safety Network volunteer editors and Lisa Goldberg for their careful review of this article, and the objects conservation team at the Harvard Art Museums for their support of this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 A recent study (Sahmel, Arnold, and Ramachandran 2022) evaluated transfer pathways of elemental metallic lead and found that lead transfer was negligible from skin to clothing and countertop surfaces, but consistently measurable for skin-to-skin transfer and between the skin and nitrile gloves. Further exploration into lead transfer from deteriorated lead glazes to gloves vs. skin is necessary to characterize these factors’ relevance in collections settings.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adrienne Gendron

Adrienne Gendron is an objects conservator with interests in organic materials as well as ethics and decision-making. Her research has involved expanding traditional materials-based approaches to conservation practice through values-based and people-centric frameworks. She is also passionate about health and safety and developing safe strategies for working with hazardous materials in museum collections. Adrienne holds an MS in the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and an MA in the History of Art and Architecture from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. She is currently the Objects Conservation Fellow at the Harvard Art Museums and serves as Publications Officer of the AIC Health and Safety Network Email: [email protected].