Where there's smoke, there's--- at DVinfo.net

Frank Granovski · March 17th, 2003, 09:44 PM

Where there's smoke, there's heath problems!

In the Vancouver Sun today, there was an interesting article about the hazards of theatrical smokes and fogs (used in the entertainment industry). A $150,000 study was done by the University Of British Columbia. The results of the study showed that staffers suffer from reduced lung capacity and increased long term respiratory irritation. "Other findings include:

1) Fogs produced by gycol fluids resulted in increased incidents of dry cough, dry throat and increased headache, dizziness and tiredness on the testing day.

2) Fogs produced by mineral oil resulted more often in a measurable drop in lung capacity."

My advice? Use dry ice or those Chinese heat sticks---which smoke like crazy!

John Locke · March 17th, 2003, 10:19 PM

Dry ice doesn't really work except in instances where you want the fog/smoke to concentrate on the ground. It won't really hang. I'm interested in the Chinese "heat sticks"...not sure I know what this is.

I'm shooting this weekend and plan to use Chinese incense (same thing as "heat sticks"?). This is the type of incense the Buddhist monks burn in the temples here. The sticks are extra long, cheap, and the perfume is very subtle and natural. Get a handful of those going and they produce a lot of smoke that lingers for quite awhile.

Frank Granovski · March 17th, 2003, 11:17 PM

They are thick sticks used to put close to your body to heat areas which need healing. But they smolder like a smoke bomb instead, and the heat they produce (for healing) is therefore over-clouded. I had a box of these, given to me by a Chinese friend. A box of 50 costs about $3.00. They'd work great for creating smoke, and they smolder for about 45 minutes.

Bill Pryor · March 18th, 2003, 01:11 PM

Maybe that's why I've got scar tissue on my lungs like a smoker...I've always used professional fog machines with Mole Richardson "bug juice," which smells like insecticide.
I understand that some people have also used bee foggers for outside.

John Threat · March 18th, 2003, 06:48 PM

Where can I get those?

I like using sparklers for sparks shooting down in industrial scenes. except buying parklers is expensive in bulk via the internet.

Frank Granovski · March 18th, 2003, 07:58 PM

In Chinese herbal medicine shops.

March 17th, 2003, 09:44 PM	#1
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Where there's smoke, there's--- Where there's smoke, there's heath problems! In the Vancouver Sun today, there was an interesting article about the hazards of theatrical smokes and fogs (used in the entertainment industry). A $150,000 study was done by the University Of British Columbia. The results of the study showed that staffers suffer from reduced lung capacity and increased long term respiratory irritation. "Other findings include: 1) Fogs produced by gycol fluids resulted in increased incidents of dry cough, dry throat and increased headache, dizziness and tiredness on the testing day. 2) Fogs produced by mineral oil resulted more often in a measurable drop in lung capacity." My advice? Use dry ice or those Chinese heat sticks---which smoke like crazy!

March 17th, 2003, 10:19 PM	#2
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Dry ice doesn't really work except in instances where you want the fog/smoke to concentrate on the ground. It won't really hang. I'm interested in the Chinese "heat sticks"...not sure I know what this is. I'm shooting this weekend and plan to use Chinese incense (same thing as "heat sticks"?). This is the type of incense the Buddhist monks burn in the temples here. The sticks are extra long, cheap, and the perfume is very subtle and natural. Get a handful of those going and they produce a lot of smoke that lingers for quite awhile. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

March 17th, 2003, 11:17 PM	#3
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	They are thick sticks used to put close to your body to heat areas which need healing. But they smolder like a smoke bomb instead, and the heat they produce (for healing) is therefore over-clouded. I had a box of these, given to me by a Chinese friend. A box of 50 costs about $3.00. They'd work great for creating smoke, and they smolder for about 45 minutes.

March 18th, 2003, 01:11 PM	#4
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Maybe that's why I've got scar tissue on my lungs like a smoker...I've always used professional fog machines with Mole Richardson "bug juice," which smells like insecticide. I understand that some people have also used bee foggers for outside.

March 18th, 2003, 06:48 PM	#5
John Threat Major Player Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York Posts: 322	Where can I get those? I like using sparklers for sparks shooting down in industrial scenes. except buying parklers is expensive in bulk via the internet.

March 18th, 2003, 07:58 PM	#6
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	In Chinese herbal medicine shops.