Department emphasized that the type of pottery involved should not
be confused with harmless chinaware.

So far the message from Ottawa. Mr. Don Collins from the
Colonist called me the same evening he got this information for a
brief opinion on the subject which he partly used in his article
accompanying the above release from Ottawa. Maybe Mr.Collins
emphasized a little too much on my remark that the unexperienced
hobbyist, working with glazes, might often not realize the danger
involved for himself and users of kis products by introducing lead
compounds. As a result of this I had many upset voices calling
me with many questions about the why, and what to do about it.
Therefore I feel that a short summary of causes and precautions to
be taken, might help those who are not sure.

To set it right in front: General explanations about handling lead
compounds will be found in each halfways useable book about
pottery making, usually in the description of the various materials
for glaze composing.

A few additions out of my own memory and experience might give
further enlightenment, For the beginner again: All lead oxides

are toxic. The red, the yellow and the white.

This sentence sounds stupid, but it has to be said over and over
again. Nearly all the students I have had since I amhere, some of
them already potting for long, were convinced that the white lead,
which is frequently used, was non-toxic. Probably this idea came
up becéuse it looked so innocent white.

The best way to avoid glaze poisoning for the potter, and also the
user of the potters pots, is to use lead frits, if lead has to be
used atall. These frits, if right composed, are non-toxic.
Poisoning only can happen when lead is dissolved in weak acids,
So it is not only the potter who swallows his lead compounds and
digests it with his stomach acid, but also the user of the articles
turned out for food use covered with a lead-giving glaze.

Already at the end of the last century several European countries
proclaimed the "Lead Law", saying that a glaze shall not give any

lead after being cooked for half an hour in vinegar solution of 4%;

this is about normal household vinegar. ‘5