MSDS – Medical Safety Data Sheets for alternative photographic processes

Try avoiding hazardous chemicals, but if/when you use them take extreme care, work in well-ventilated areas, wear appropriate protective gear and clothing, do not eat or drink near your workspace and keep away from children and pets. We have listed chemicals and Medical Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for chemicals relating to alternative photographic processes.

This is in no way a complete list. Make sure you look up chemicals before using them and read the MSDS, and have a number handy for emergencies. We have listed chemicals and the identified hazards. Note that the sheets get updated from time to time, so make sure always to search and look up the latest before using chemicals.
When we say “used for” in the table below, it is not a recommendation to use it, but some processes make use of it in this way. Quite often, there is a less poisonous or more sustainable alternative; look for it and use it. Take care!

Name of chemical	Could be used for – but find a less toxic alternative when possible	Identified hazards – examples only, not a complete list. For all hazards, consult the MSDS	MSDS: Medical Safety Data Sheet and CAS-number
Acetone	Rawlins oil print process	Highly flammable liquid and vapour Causes serious eye irritation May cause drowsiness or dizziness	Roth CAS number 67-64-1
Ammonia	Silver plating	May be corrosive to metals Causes severe skin burns and eye damage May cause respiratory irritation Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects	Roth CAS number 1336-21-6
Borax / di-Sodium tetraborate	Found in some Anthotypes recipes, but note that it is banned in Europe and UK!	Causes serious eye irritation May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child	Roth CAS number 1330-43-4
Copper(II) chloride = CuCl2	Silver mirroring toning	Causes skin irritation Causes serious eye damage Harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin	ThermoFisher Scientific CAS No 7447-39-4
Dektol developer	Develop analogue photographs and mordancage	Harmful if swallowed Causes serious eye damage May cause an allergic skin reaction Suspected of causing genetic defects Suspected of causing cancer Very toxic to aquatic life. Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects	SDS – Safety Data Sheet UK
Ethanol	Mixing anthotype emulsions Also: Alcoholic beverages such as gin or vodka	Flammable liquid Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Roth 1612-2022
Ferric ammonium citrate / Ammonium iron(III) citrate	Cyanotypes Citrate Copperplate Photogravure Rawlins oil prints	Hazards: None identified	ThermoFisher Scientific CAS No. 1185-57-5
Glacial acetic acid	Mordançage	Flammable liquid and vapour Causes severe skin burns and eye damage May be harmful if swallowed Toxic if inhaled Harmful in contact with skin	Fisher scientific
Hydrazine Sulphate	Silver plating	Acute toxicity Carcinogenicity Hazardous to the aquatic environment	Chemos.de CAS number 10034-93-2
Hydrogen Peroxide	Rawlins oil print process	Harmful if swallowed or inhaled Causes skin irritation Causes serious eye damage May cause respiratory irritation	Roth 7722-84-1
Hydroxylammonium Chloride	Silver plating	Acute toxicity Skin corrosion/irritation Serious eye damage/eye irritation Carcinogenicity Specific target organ toxicity Hazardous to the aquatic environment	Chemos.de CAS number 5470-11-1
Hydroxylamine Sulfate	Silver plating	Acute oral toxicity Skin Corrosion/Irritation Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation Carcinogenicity Specific target organ toxicity	ThermoFisher scientific CAS No 10039-54-0
Hydroxylamine hydrochloride	Silver plating	May form combustible dust concentrations in air Toxic if swallowed Harmful in contact with skin Causes skin irritation Causes serious eye irritation Suspected of causing cancer	ThermoFisher Scientific CAS No 5470-11-1
Isopropanol, 2-Propanol	Mixing anthotype emulsions Also: Degreasing surfaces and Handsanitiser	Flammable liquid Serious eye damage/eye irritation Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure (narcotic effects, drowsiness)	Roth 09-09 2021
Kodak fixer (Kodafix)	Fixing analogue photographs and mordancage	Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May damage fertility or the unborn child.	SDS – Safety Data Sheet UK
Permawash / Perma Wash Concentrate	Washing analogue photographs after fixing	Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation.	Omega brandness
Potassium ferricyanide	Cyanotype	Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas	ThermoFisher Scientific CAS No 13746-66-2
Potassium hydroxide = KOH	Silver mirroring toning	May be corrosive to metals Causes severe skin burns and eye damage	Roth
Potassium thiocyanate = KSCN	Silver mirroring toning	Harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects	Roth CAS number 333-20-0
Renaissance Wax	Polishing photographs	Not classified as hazardous	Picreator Enterprises Ltd 27-08-2015 White Spirit (contains less than 0.1% benzene by weight) with CAS no. 64741-92-0
Sodium hydroxide = NaOH	Silver mirroring toning	May be corrosive to metals Causes severe skin burns and eye damage	Roth CAS number 1310-73-2
Sulfamic acid	De-buffering papers	Skin irritation Serious eye irritation Harmful to aquatic life	Roth 17-12-2021
Chemical	Used for	Hazard	Link to sheet

Again, make sure you look up any chemicals before use. Stay safe!

MSDS – Medical Safety Data Sheets for alternative photographic processes

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