Hello, I do tintype photography as it was done in the 1860's. I have recently slowed down this type of photography due to the fact that I just had a baby. I've actually only worked 2 events since his birth; he is 4 months now. Here go with my questions:

1. I know that the silver nitrate on my fingers is black because it alters to silver chloride and I know that silver chl. is toxic in granular form; but once it is stained on my fingers/hands, is it still toxic? I obviously ask this relating to holding/contact with my baby. (and yes, I wash and wash and even use brillo pad on my hands to get as much off as possible before handling him).

2. Also, what about the toxicity of the old stains on my clothing?

 

Many thanks, Ty

it`s harmless, in fact if you can see the blackish stains it`s the Silver as a

Metal your looking at, not the chloride.

 

did you know that silver nitrate soln is put into new born babies eyes as well?

thank you very much. Yes, I know about the silver nitrate in the eyes of newborns, yet that is less than 1% solution I think and my solutions are 9%.

By the time the stuff has turned into black stains on your skin it is metalic silver. Practically inert and harmless (unless it's travelling really fast and you are a werewolf).