Dust entry

Ceramics studio dust

Respirable dust generated by mixing, handling, sanding, and firing clay and glaze materials in ceramics and visual-arts studios; composition varies by product and may include crystalline silica.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

respiratory irritationrespirable crystalline silica exposuresilicosis risk when silica-containing dust is inhaled

Evidence

NIOSH evaluated workplace exposures in a school ceramics and visual-arts studio, including respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica generated by ceramics and sculpture activities; the report is a workplace-specific evaluation and does not establish that every studio has the same exposure profile.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 1 · Executive Summary / Findings · 2

The evaluation included assessment of respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica exposures in a school ceramics and visual arts studio.

Controls

substitute lower-silica materials where feasible
local exhaust ventilation
wet methods
enclose dusty mixing and sanding tasks
HEPA vacuum cleaning
exposure assessment
appropriate respiratory protection