Hazards in Ceramic. Lead poisoning from pottery glaze and paint NO form of lead or arsenic may be used in our materials without specific clearance and training from the instructor.
Lead is hazardous to breathe, to ingest (eat), and can be released from firing into the air. Finally, any container glazed with these materials may be toxic to eat or drink from because lead can leach into food or drink stored in the vessel. While new pottery sold today in the United States is generally assumed to be safe from lead, occasionally one still reads about cases of pottery that is accidentally sold with dangerous amounts of lead in the glaze. Lead has many very serious effects if ingested. Studio Safety. Much of the following information is specific to the clay studio at the Appalachian Center for Craft, but should still provide useful for any studio artist working in clay.
Technological University - Appalachian Center for Craft - Clay Studio Vince Pitelka, 2006. Studio Safety.