Analog photographers, throughout history, have had to delve into chemistry. Many different chemicals make up a photographer’s kit to capture, develop and fix images.
In the early stages of photography, hazards around these chemicals were not widely known. Even if announced to be dangerous, photographers still used them, claiming better results. Read below for some of the most dangerous chemicals in photography.
Cover photo - The old merry-go-roundby Pierre Boisgontier
10. Potassium Bichromate (Gum printing, Carbon printing)
This is an important chemical, used as an oxidizing agent with a strong mineral acid. Gum bichromate printing was one of the first photography process methods, originating in 1850. Paper becomes light sensitive when coated with gum Arabic and potassium bichromate.
This orange/red crystalline or powder is both carcinogenic and corrosive. Both eye protection and gloves must be used when handling. Inhaling the chemical can cause the septum to dissolve while damaging the liver and kidneys – serious starts from 15 grains.
9. Bromide Fumes (Emulsion)
The chemical bromide is used alongside silver to create a light-sensitive coating. By combining silver and a halogen, photographers could capture their scenes well exposed. It is also used with potassium to create an agent to slow down the development process.
Fumes from bromide affect your mucous membranes (mouth, nose), and create long-term aspiration and lung problems. Systemic poisoning is a possibility from reduced blood pressure in the brain, kidneys, and other organs.
8. Mercury Vapor (Daguerreotypes)
For the French, the 1840s was a very special time – Louis Daguerre had created a photography process and released it, for free, to further the advancement of photography. His daguerreotypes were not without their faults, as mercury vapor was needed to reveal the latent image before setting it with salt.
Breathing mercury vapors harm the nervous system, organs such as the kidneys and lungs, and the bloodstream. The odorless chemical causes acute pain, swollen limbs, and, in some cases, death.
7. Iodine Fumes (Daguerreotypes)
Another chemical used in the Daguerreotype process was iodine. A metal sheet was light sensitized using the fumes so that the photographer could capture the scene. Henry Fox Talbot in England used iodine as a halogen with silver to create silver iodine. His first negative changed the way others approached photography.
Iodine fumes are highly toxic. They irritate the eyes and the throat, causing difficulty in breathing. In high concentrations, chest tightness, and inflammation alongside fluid accumulation in the respiratory tract. A well-ventilated area, or while wearing a mask.
Before the day wakes me up by Adam Wajner
6. Silver Nitrate (Early photography process)
In 1717, chemist Johann Schulze noticed that the sun’s rays were darkening a solution of silver, nitric acid, and chalk. Silver nitrate was one of the first light-sensitive chemical solutions that allowed for faster exposure times.
As it is light-sensitive, silver nitrate darkens, whether on paper or skin. It is not fatal unless ingested, causing corrosive damage to the gastrointestinal tract. It will damage your eyes, so always wear gloves and eye protection.
5. Ether fumes (Collodion)
Frederick Scott Archer found that collodion (cellulose nitrate dissolved in ether and ethanol) created a strong alternative to the albumen photography process. Their way, the photographer could sensitize, capture and process the shot in minutes.
Fumes from the ether are both explosive & flammable. The temperature of ignition is 170 °C and doesn’t need a spark to do so. The risk of fire is great, but also is the issue of not inhaling oxygen, knocking you unconscious. A well-ventilated space is needed.
4. Nitrate film (Pre-1951 film base)
Nitrate film was used as roll and sheet film medium for holding the suspended silver halides needed to capture a scene. From the late 19th century to 1951, nitrate film was a major type of film base. In 1951, Kodak replaced nitrate film with a more stable acetate film stock.
If you remember a certain scene from a certain Tarantino film, you’ll know how incredibly flammable nitrate film is. The reason is nitroglycerin – yes, the stuff they make dynamite with. As cellulose nitrate contains oxygen, it can’t be put out by water. This has been the killer of many photographers and projectionists.
3. Potassium Cyanide (Wet plate collodion)
One chemical used to fix wet plate collodion processes was the salt potassium cyanide. It was preferred to other chemicals as it didn’t contain sulfides – darkening the highlights of the scene. It removed fog, leaving clean and crisp shadow areas. Early photographers used it to clean stains made by light-sensitive silver nitrate
Symptoms of prolonged inhalation are: lack of appetite, dry sinuses, shooting pain headaches, nose bleeds, dizziness, and temporary blindness. Some photographic workers had lost hands as cyanide had entered the skin through a cut. With early darkroom practices, photographers had accidentally drunk cyanide, which, is always fatal.
2. Mercury Chloride (Intensifier)
Bichloride of Mercury was a photographic intensifier for positive image printing in the 19th century. It increased the opacity of the shadows by whitening the image, making it seem positive rather than negative.
What makes mercury chloride so dangerous is the corrosive properties it possesses. Mercury poisoning causes insomnia, bleeding gums, and fatigue. If you mix in chloride, expect vomiting of blood, kidney failure, and damage to the gastrointestinal tract. A photographer who accidentally ingested mercury saved himself with another photography chemical – albumen.
1. Pyrogallic acid (Film developer)
Pyrogallic acid is made by heating tree galls and barks under pressure and underwater. It was one of the first photographic developers in the 19th century and continued until around 1920. Edward Weston was one of many who continued to use it despite its unreliable behavior.
This chemical absorbs oxygen, so it will damage the respiratory system, resulting in irritation to the throat and nose. Ingestion causes huge issues to the gastrointestinal tract, with possible death, even to the touch.