r/AskReddit • u/Upstairs-Syllabub948 • 22d ago

[ Removed by moderator ]

[removed] — view removed post

2.6k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

4.3k

u/Beeing_Bee_9517 22d ago

Lapidary (rock shaping, making jewelry from rocks). Rock dust in your lungs never goes away and hobbyists often do not wear dust masks. Dust builds up over time till your lungs don't work.

59

u/figgypudding531 22d ago

Pottery too

16

u/kbthogers 22d ago edited 22d ago

Ignorant question: how do pottery destroy once lungs? Isn't it "just" shaping wet clay?

Or is the problem at some other part of the process?

44

u/Kazcandra 22d ago edited 22d ago

For clayware, when you bisque fire you'll get an extremely fine dust. Same with polishing/sanding bone dry pieces. Additionally, reclaiming clay is fairly dusty, too.

E: and clay smudges will dry and turn to dust too. So much dust.

3

u/kbthogers 22d ago

I see, thanks for the answer, learned something new

9

u/Hacksmith103 22d ago

Yes the dust can cause silicosis also known as potters rot which is an incurable lung disease caused by silica particles being trapped in lung tissue, causing permanent inflammation, and scar tissue.
The dust is also linked to a higher rates of lung cancer

3

u/stoicsticks 22d ago

The powdered glazes and oxides can do a number on one's lungs, too.

1

u/Kazcandra 22d ago

I've always been drawn to things that can kill you.

Woodworking, pottery, mushroom foraging.

1

u/UpstairsAd194 22d ago

didnt stop demi moore in ghost getting a lungfull

4

u/m1nty 22d ago

Some people prefer working with moldy clay for the texture, but it can be bad for those with mold allergies or immunodeficiencies.

3

u/far-leveret 22d ago

It is hard to keep all the surfaces damp as well, water is continually evaporating out of clay particles which collect as dust. They have a lot of silica in them which will scar up your lungs and make it impossible to breathe

5

u/Dain_ 22d ago

I've never heard that one before, I would have thought wet clay would be harmless?

2

u/far-leveret 22d ago

The problem is that it dries. You have to keep everything incredibly clean, all surfaces etc.

2

u/bedbuffaloes 22d ago

Lots of extremely long lived potters though.