Response to newbie question about PMK

You will find some information on PMK and pyro in general on my site at http://www.unblinkingeye.com in the article on Mixing Developers. Since the working solution is highly diluted and oxidizes very rapidly, there is no harm in simply pouring it down the drain after use. You should use great caution if you mix the dry chemicals yourself, since pyro-gallol is highly toxic. The pre-mixed liquid available from Photographers Formulary is considerably safer, since there is not the possibly of breathing pyro-gallol dust. The solution is however readily absorbed through the skin, so you should wear gloves when you mix it. A few drops of the dilute working solution occasionally on the skin is no cause for alarm and can simply be washed off, but you should avoid repeated contact with the concentrate. Direct ingestion of the pure chemical is another matter altogether--even as small a quantity as a gram would be fatal.

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