Let's not kid ourselves, here. There's no shortage of ways you can kill yourself in a darkroom - and some of the poisons are cumulative, so it's unlikely you'll know you're killing yourself while you're doing it. MSDS's (material safety data sheets) can tell you a lot; but I recently read the obituary of a former chemistry professor of mine who learned the hard way that a lot of what went into the MSDS for dimethyl mercury was based on anecdotal (and regrettably incomplete) evidence, since there was only so much the safety gurus could do experimentally to determine its health hazards to humans. A little bit of common sense goes a long way towards keeping you from becoming a statistic.

Any good darkroom should have exhaust fans, period. If you're using pre-mixed commercial MQ black and white developers (D-76, Dektol, etc.), you may be able to get away with mixing your chemicals outdoors and working for only limited periods in a sealed room in the basement. But the moment you start messing with either pyrogallol, E6 process stabilizers, or Ilfochrome materials, ventilation could save your life.

Gloves are also a prerequisite for handling a lot of this stuff. Pyrogallol is absorbed through the skin, and although at present it appears that it's not a cumulative poison, far too many of the great photographers have died of Parkinson's disease to take any chances. If you use pyro, mix it under a fume hood or outside and wear gloves and a dust mask when you handle it in its crystalline form. When you're 80, you'll be glad you did.

In the interests of keeping everybody healthy, here's a quick rundown of the more common deadly items on the darkroom shelf and what to do if you ingest them:

Acetic Acid [CH₃COOH]: Do not breathe vapor. Aviod contact with eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. If contact occurs, flush with water followed by water mixed with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). If taken internally, give tap water, milk, or water mixed with egg whites. Do not give emetics.

Acetone [(CH₃)₂CO]: Take precaution against ignition. Do not breathe vapor. If contact with skin, eyes, or mucous membranes, flush with water. If swallowed, induce vomiting.

Catechol [C₆H₄-1,2-(OH)₂]: Do not breathe vapor. Avoid breathing catechol dust. If contact with skin, eyes, or mucous membranes, flush with water. If swallowed, induce vomiting.

Citric Acid [HOC(COOH)(CH₂COOH)₂]: Citric Acid is completely metabolized in the human body and is therefore not considered hazardous. If splashed on skin or in eyes and irritation occurs, flush with water. If ingested in extremely large quantities, consult a physician.

Ethyl Alcohol [C₂H₅OH]: The same rules for citric acid apply to ethyl alcohol; however the user should be aware that in order to make ethyl alcohol unfit for human consumption (and thus avoid taxation), manufacturers will add any number of poisonous compounds to it (including, but not limited to, acetone, kerosene, gasoline, etc.).

Ferric Chloride [FeCl₃ * 6H₂O]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed, wash out mouth with water and drink large quantities of water followed by milk of magnesia. Consult a physician immediately.

Ferrous Sulfate [FeSO₄ * 7H₂O]: Respiratory irritant -- keep container closed and use only with plenty of ventilation. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed consult a physician immediately.

Formaldehyde [HCHO]: Avoid vapors. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed induce vomiting and follow vomiting by drinking large quantities of water to dilute the solution. Call a physician immediately.

Gold Chloride [HAuCl₄ * 3H₂O]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed induce vomiting and consult a physician immediately.

Hydrochloric Acid [HCl]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed, drink copius quanitites of lime water or milk of magnesia. NEVER give sodium bicarbonate. Contact a physician

Hydroquinone [C₆H₄-1,4-(OH)₂]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed induce vomiting and consult a physician immediately.

Mercuric Chloride [HgCL₂]: Ventilate, wear gloves, and stay as far away from this stuff as you can. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed give emetics and consult a physician immediately. Don't even think of messing around with anything containing mercury. Dimercaprol has been therapeutically effective as an antidote, sometimes in conjunction with a 5% to 10% solution of sodium formaldehdye sulfoxylate.

Mercuric Iodide [HgI₂]: Ventilate, wear gloves, and stay as far away from this stuff as you can. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed give emetics and consult a physician immediately. Don't even think of messing around with anything containing mercury. Dimercaprol has been therapeutically effective as an antidote, sometimes in conjunction with a 5% to 10% solution of sodium formaldehdye sulfoxylate.

Mercury [Hg]: Ventilate, wear gloves, and stay as far away from this stuff as you can. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed give emetics and consult a physician immediately. Don't even think of messing around with anything containing mercury. Dimercaprol has been therapeutically effective as an antidote, sometimes in conjunction with a 5% to 10% solution of sodium formaldehdye sulfoxylate.

p-Methylaminophenol Sulfate (Metol, Elon, etc.) [(HOC₆H₄NHCH₃)₂ * H₂SO₄]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed induce vomiting and consult a physician immediately.

Potassium Bromide [KBr]: Take precautions against inhalation. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed consult a physician immediately.

Potassium Chloride [KCl]: KCl is often used as a "salt substitute" for persons on a low salt diet. In small quantities it is non-toxic.

Potassium Dichromate [K₂Cr₂O₇]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed consult a physician immediately. Potassium dichromate is itself an emetic, however if vomiting does not begin naturally, induce.

Pyrogallol (1,2,3 Trihydroxybenzene) [C₆H₃-1,2,3-(OH)₃]: Do not inhale the dust of the crystalline form. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed consult a physician immediately, since pyrogallol poising can quickly lead to kidney failure. Pyrogallol also removes oxygen from the blood stream, resulting in a death similar to that of cyanide poisoning. Long term exposure may cause Parkinson's Disease.

Selenium [Se]: If dust or vapor is inhaled, remove from exposure, rest, and keep warm. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water or 10% solution of sodium thiosulfate in water. If swallowed, wash out mouth with water and induce vomiting. Call a physician at once.

Silver Bromide [AgBr]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once. If swallowed, induce vomiting.

Silver Chloride [AgCl]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once. If swallowed, induce vomiting.

Silver Iodide [AgI]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once. If swallowed, induce vomiting.

Silver Nitrate [AgNO₃]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once. If swallowed, drink salt water to precipitate insoluble silver chloride salts, then induce vomiting.

Silver Sulfide [Ag₂S]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. In low doses, sliver sulfide is considered inert due to its low solubility in water, but if a considerable quantity has been ingested, call a physician.

Sodium Carbonate [NaCO₃]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once. If swallowed, induce vomiting.

Sodium Chloride [NaCl]: The ancient Egypitians used this substance to do embalming. Take the hint. Next time order the side salad instead of the bowl of fries.

Sodium Hydroxide [NaOH]: If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once. If swallowed, drink large quantities of water to dilute the solution, after which drink vinegar or fruit juice to neutralize the base. DO NOT drink hydrochloric acid; this titration experiment is best left on the chemistry bench -- not run on your innards. DO NOT induce vomiting, since the active hydroxide ion can burn the throat and mouth just as easily coming back up as going down.

Sodium Metabisulfite [Na₂S₂O₅]: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once.

Sodium Metaborate [NaBO₂]: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once. Induce vomiting.

Sodium Sulfite [Na₂SO₃]: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once.

Sodium Thiosulfite [Na₂S₂O₃ * 5H₂O]: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If contact is made with skin, eyes, or mucous mebranes, flush with plenty of water. Call a physician or eye specialist at once.

Water [H₂O]: Drink 8 glasses a day for good health.