Why is polymer clay toxic

Read the label, and follow best practice s to minimize your exposure to fumes. For another look at the topic, read this down-to earth treatise on the subject Polymer Clay Central.

There has been a fair amount of chit-chat on the topic of phthalates in the polymer clay industry. Personally I have not had any reactions to polymer clay but like anyone, want the product to be safe for everyone.

I am looking forward to trying her new clay when it comes out! It just gives me a reason to find another substance to be creative with. It is certified non-toxic, remember. From all the research I have read, there has been many tests done with polymer clay and the majority of the safety concerns is heating clay to blackening or burning.

Burning the clay at temperature higher than degrees will release the fumes that irritate your eyes and mucus membranes. I would be careful as the same plasticizers are also absorbed by the skin and can carry carcineogins and endocrine disrupters…. Well, Sara, thanks for your insightful comment and colorful vocabulary. I may be an idiot for questioning authority, but you are just mean. Feel free to adjust the setting to give you the temperature that you actually want to use.

A word about burning. You will know if your clay burns. The clay will bubble and blacken and there will be profuse and terrible smelling smoke.

Far more common is the situation of browned or darkened clay. You can learn all about this, including how to choose an oven, all about temperature, how long to bake your clay, and tricks to help bake your clay well in my course on Baking Polymer Clay. Equally horrifying to watching your dragon go up in smoke is when you create something as a gift to someone and find that it breaks while you are wrapping it.

Or worse, you realize that items you have sold are breaking. Why is polymer clay so fragile? Well, you guessed it. This is another polymer clay myth. Manufacturers make polymer clay from PVC particles that need to fuse during baking into a solid mass. Make sure that you are baking your clay properly. Some are stronger than others. Some are better for jewelry, others are just fine for making cute little chibis and figurines. Make sure you choose the Best Brand of Polymer Clay for the kind of work you like to do.

Polymer clay is vinyl plastic and therefore is already waterproof, washable, and durable. It does not need sealing and in many cases adding a sealer, varnish, or glaze can ruin your piece.

These brush-on products can sometimes remain sticky, get cloudy, peel off, or deteriorate over time. Choose your varnish wisely, however. Also, know that most spray-on sealers are completely incompatible with polymer clay, leading to sticky results. There are exceptions, however. You may also want to change the level of gloss on your piece by using a varnish. Read more about sealing polymer clay and learn which brands of brush-on and spray sealers and varnishes I do recommend in my article Do You Need to Seal Polymer Clay?

A sanded and buffed polymer clay finish is truly wonderful. It feels warm, smooth, silky, and invites your touch. Sanding and buffing, however, are excellent techniques to have in your repertoire.

A perfectly sanded bead can rival glass in its smooth beauty and you truly must sand and buff mica shift to get that incredible sparkle and the illusion of depth. It is over beautifully formatted pages and it covers everything you could ever imagine about sanding, buffing, tumbling, tools, tips, and tricks.

Even the most seasoned clayer learns new things from reading this book! We all played with modeling clay when we were in primary school, and in many ways polymer clay certainly resembles the oily Plasticine clay that most of us used. And polymer clay does make a wonderful modeling clay for children, especially the softer brands aimed at them such as Bake Shop and Fimo Kids. But polymer clay is oh so much more than that! Because you can clay mold, extrude, sculpt, carve, drill, sand, paint, roll, knit, layer, twist, texture, and chop polymer clay, it lends itself to use in every kind of art imaginable.

Yes, it makes great Minions and hair bow centers. But it also makes vessels , brooches , shrines , mosaics , paintings , collages , jewelry , and even art installations. Do take some time to explore the work in each of those links…they are luscious. Polymer clay is arguably the best art media for exploring the use of color.

Well, frankly, some of it is. Like crocheted toilet paper cozies, any craft can sometimes be taken too far and polymer is no exception. As I mentioned above, polymer clay is also used to make great art. On Pinterest there are many recipes explaining how to make your own polymer clay.

Like the other polymer clay myths, this one has a nugget of truth and a lot of misunderstanding. But we use cell phones and breathe exhaust and get into our cars which are filled with plastic.

Some risk is unavoidable. But you have to evaluate the relative importance of these risks. Now pardon me while I go get a snack. Email is the best way to get updates You will LOVE getting this email, which is packed full of polymer clay goodness.

About once a week. I am fairly new to polymer clay and was wondering if you have any additional information around the reformulation of polymer clays with alternative plasticizers to comply with CPSIA of Not sure if all of them do. Hi, If I use a mug and decorate it with Polymer Clay, can it be put in microwave for warming drinks?

And also, would Sculpey bond and bake glue the clay to mug while baking, or would I have to use a different glue after baking?

Thanks in advance for your advice! Yes, it can be used in the microwave to warm drinks, but not for very long. Great article! I figured it was safe, but it is good to be sure. I also wonder if it was possible to fix a chipped mug with polymer clay.

It is not an issue when you try for the sections on the handle, but mine also has one spot on the rim that needs to be food safe. The idea is for it to be smooth, so if I understand correctly, si should be safe?

I was wondering if there would be an issue using polymer clay to make an aquarium decoration? Polymer clay is vinyl. Many people do use polymer clay for this purpose. Thank you for your article but I have a slightly different concern. I am planning to make ergonomic but pretty handles for my crochet hooks.

I have several aluminum hooks that I inherited from my MIL but after I work them for awhile, the handle rubs a sore spot in my palm. I plan to seal them with polyurethane after baking to give them a glossy shine.

Is this possible or am I concerned about nothing? How can I be sure that the clay is pure and meets US safety standards? The simplest solution is to stick with name brands. Fantastic article. There are thousands of scientific studies backing up the safety of genetic engineering and confirming the safety and nutritional equivalence of non-organic foods.

I know this is a polymer clay site, but since you mentioned it, I figured I would encourage you to look closer at the science on these topics. As someone who was educated in biology and has worked doing molecular biology research, I fully understand that GMOs are not dangerous.

I was speaking more generally, stating that humans ie. Sadly, many people do perceive these harmless things to be dangerous, which was exactly my point. Would a surgical one be enough? Surgical masks only keep out particles, not toxins. But polymer clay has been tested to be non-toxic when used properly. Thanks for another great article! When people ask me for tips on getting into PC I always direct them to your site, describing it as the Bible for PC haha. I just purchased some gold liquid FIMO which I was hoping to use to create gold joins in my clay pieces similar to Kintsugi style and also use it to cover pre-baked clay for a marble effect.

Take that into consideration when choosing your baking times and temps. Always monitor and use good ventilation! Hello, please bear with me. I made my friend a joint holder modeled after a vintage cigarette holder out of this type of clay before even thinking it might not be safe. Thank you! Hi, I was wondering if I make a spoon rest from polymer clay and then seal it with epoxy resin, will it be safe? Do you think this would be safe to use to store fruit on the counter once it has been baked?

If not, do you know of a food save sealant i might be able to coat the fruit bowl with? However, you can decorate the outside of a clear glass bowl. Try that. It will just rub off. Thank You for responding so quickly, mineral oil is food safe, doctors her me giving it to my disabled daughter internally , Thank You for the information, learning as I go,.

Is there any way to drink hot drinks from mugs that have polymer clay on them and is there a way to make them almost heat resistant? Some of these people are allergic to latex; others worry that prolonged contact with latex might lead them to develop a latex allergy. Again, unless you have an allergic reaction to the clay itself which is unlikely , there's no reason why you have to wear gloves at all, though many do find that wearing gloves cuts down on fingerprints in the clay.

Whether or not you wear gloves, remain conscious of what you do with your hands when you've been handling polymer clay. Avoid touching your eyes and face. As much as possible, try not to touch anything that you wouldn't want "contaminated" with clay nice furniture, fabrics, electronics, etc. Home Contact Us. Related Pages. People new to polymer clay are often confused about its level of safety. This is understandable, because there do seem to be pieces of conflicting evidence, or at least conflicting points of view.

Don't eat it. Though polymer clay is certified "to contain no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children, or to cause acute or chronic health problems, even if ingested," it is wise to keep it out of the reach of young children or pets who might try to eat it.

For the same reason, it is important to carefully wash your hands after handling raw clay. And you should never let raw clay come into contact with food or drink. Don't eat off of it, either. Dishes made from polymer clay are not suitable for eating from, and cured polymer clay should not come into contact with food, in general. Cured polymer clay is too porous to be sufficiently cleaned after contact with food.