Do you want to end up inhaling free silica dust – a known carcinogenic material - while using alginate for making life casts? Help is at hand in the form of specially formulated silica-free alginate options!

Alginate is considered the Holy Grail of life casting literally since time immemorial! Skin-safe silicon rubber versions are available now; they not only capture exceptional detail, but the body molds can be used repeatedly to make multiple life casts. They can even be stored and used any time later as desired.

And yet, the world of life casting seems to rely more on alginate – a humble material that was initially used to make dental impressions. It is also widely used in the medical field for dressings and wound care and even in the food industry as a food supplement.

Regular alginate is derived from seaweed before being combined with other materials. It is available as a fine white powder which has to be mixed with water to form a gel-like paste with a smooth, creamy consistency. Keep in mind that hard water should never be mixed with alginate as it will become a lumpy mix (like cottage cheese) that is completely unusable.

However, regular alginate powders tend to contain silica. This silica dust is in crystalline form – 100 times smaller than sand grains - and gets released when one is working with the alginate compound. Therefore, both the life casting artist and the model will be inhaling the silica dust without even realizing what is happening.

The problem here is that this almost invisible silica becomes harmful when it enters the lungs. This can manifest as lung cancer, silicosis (irreversible scarring and stiffening of lungs), kidney ailments and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. More and more people are reporting the development of lung cancer due to silica dust exposure. While it has to be said that the silica content is minimal in alginate and not all life casting artists will end up afflicted with the deadly disease, the risk definitely increases with long-term or repeated high-level exposure.

Suitable safety measures involve wearing masks while working with alginate and using an exhaust in the art studio to ensure proper ventilation.

A Better Solution

The best bet for an artist’s health is to completely avoid exposure to this known carcinogenic material. No, it is not about switching loyalties and avoiding alginate altogether. Concerned art manufacturers have come up with a silica-free option in alginate! (Indeed, even OSHA has recommended eliminating this potential hazard in the workplace.)

This specially formulated material is both user friendly and environment friendly. Termed as ‘Silfree’ by EnvironMolds – a leading supplier of art materials –this formula is available in three distinct variations – slow set, regular set and quick set. All are offered on (https://www.artmolds.com/) Artists can choose the best option to suit their preferences and applications.

All in all, this is a noteworthy safety improvement that stands both the artists and their models in good stead for body casting!