Shell 'toxicity'

[lamanoditrento]

Having repeated heard dire warnings about shell toxicity, I was quite surprised when stumbled across this article:

https://luthiersupply.com/18/informatio ... dndie.html

[kiwigeo]

Most molluscan shells consist of three layers - an outer proteinaceous periosteum (uncalcified), a prismatic layer (calcified) and an inner pearly layer of nacre (calcified). The prismatic layer is aragonite..a form of calcium carbonate. Nacre (=mother of pearl) is interlayered arragonite and elastic biopolymers.

I don't regard shell dust as toxic but I treat it like any other dust in my workshop...I control it and avoid it.

Having repeated heard dire warnings about shell toxicity, I was quite surprised when stumbled across this article:

https://luthiersupply.com/18/informatio ... dndie.html

[jfmckenna]

Yeah I've always heard that too. Interesting. I can imagine in an industrial setting it could cause something like silicosis which is not from a toxin but from the particles of dust themselves. So in any case dust control would be very important as it should be for anything.

[WJ Guitars]

I agree you need to be careful with dust and especially fine dust from shell. I use a mask and set up a dust extractor pipe near the pearl cutting slabs when making inlays.

Wayne

https://wjguitars.wixsite.com/mysite-1