8 replies to this topic

[pyrotechnist]

How safe is KNO3 on the skin when in a wet state for say making touch paper? has anyone else had any types of problems with say skin irritation or nausea?

[RangerOfFire]

Havn't had any problems. You only get problems after handling tonnes of the stuff, hence nitrate handling gloves for farmers.

Although always wearing gloves can't be a bad thing.

[pyromaniac303]

How safe is KNO3 on the skin when in a wet state for say making touch paper? has anyone else had any types of problems with say skin irritation or nausea?

It makes the skin on my hands sore and split, so I try to avoid skin contact and usually wear plastic gloves similar to the ones they give you at petrol stations. If im going to be pressing dampened KNO3 based comps through a screen or other operations that need a bit more control I use rubber gloves.

Not had any problems with nausea or other illness though.

[lew]

it has pretty much the same reaction to your hands as table salt - it dries the skin and can cause dryness and cracking after a while.

if you dont wear gloves, wash your hands well after handling it and moisturise them well.

[Arthur Brown]

Most of the people I know have an adverse reaction to something, If you have found your adverse reaction to something then find and use suitable ppe (gloves etc. )

If you assume that all materials we use are poisonous then you will not go far wrong.

As most of pyro is mixing powders there is very little that will "bite" you through the bottle (nothing radioactive for example) so you have to allow contact to risk a hazard.

Basic housekeeping helps loads work cleanly, wear gloves, wear mask if appropriate, wear apron. WASH hands amd arms. Wash tools and workspace.

[pyrotechnist]

Ok thanks for advice mates I was just curios as sometimes felt a slight burn on my fingers while making nitrated paper but then again that may be in part to having slight excema which also makes my skin more sensitive. But luckily I have just stocked up on more gloves and will start wearing them more often in the future.

[marble]

kno3 is pretty inert, not very toxic and wont mess up your skin to much.

[Arthur Brown]

OK now you say you are specially sensitive. Your skin is important, it keeps you in! Determine and wear the optimum personal protective equipment, gloves etc wear it properly and work cleanly.

[MDH]

Well, like anything, you don't breath it.

Dry potassium nitrate may be okay to handle shortly with bare hands but in the longrun you'll want to use gloves.

Edited by MDH, 22 October 2007 - 06:12 AM.