Ariana Makau, Founder of Nzilani Glass Conservation, an award-winning firm and one of few in the USA qualified in historical glass works.


PLEASE READ BELOW: 

This safety video is more for weekly students (not 1-day workshops) who will be handling and restoring OLD leaded windows/projects since old lead can be oxidize. Oxidized lead can aerosolize (be present in the air) in particles and if inhaled can be absorbed into the body. 

If you are just taking a 1-day workshop, you will be using new solder (60% lead, 40% tin) which does not release oxidize lead particles into the air. The only risk while soldering you will encounter is the burning of "flux". Flux is a chemical used to allow for the solder to adhere to the copper foil or lead came. When burned, it is toxic. Therefore, the studio is equipped with fume extractors with HEPA filters to remove the toxic fumes from the air. Lead exposure and absorption during the 1-day workshop can therefore only be done through getting it on skin and then ingesting into the body. For this, we provide nitril gloves and D-Lead wipes/soap which will remove any lead on hands after cleaning.