Health & Safety in the Arts
A Searchable Database of
Health & Safety Information for Artists


Painting & Drawing Techniques
ID Painting/Drawing Tech Ingestion Haz Inhalation Haz Skin Contact Haz Other Hazards Precautions
1 WATER-BASED PAINTS


May contain preservatives, such as formaldehyde Don't eat, drink, smoke in studio; wash hands, including under fingernails (good hygiene); switch to formaldehyde-free painting medium; avoid inhaling pigment powder; use least toxic preservatives possible
2 Acrylic Paints (Water-Emulsion)


May contain ammonia which may cause eye, nose, throat irritation, especially if large amounts are used;may contain preservatives, such as formaldehyde Good hygiene; switch to formaldehyde-free painting medium; avoid inhaling pigment powder; use least toxic preservatives possible; use window exhaust fan
3 Watercolors and Gouache
Moderately toxic Slightly toxic Gum arabic and gum tragacanth cause skin allergies; gum arabic can cause asthma; may contain preservatives, such as formaldehyde Good hygiene; switch to formaldehyde-free painting medium; avoid inhaling pigment powder; use least toxic preservatives possible
4 Casein Paints
Strong irritant Strong irritant Ammonia also causes irritation to eyes Good hygiene; switch to formaldehyde-free painting medium; avoid inhaling pigment powder; use least toxic preservatives possible; use exhaust fan; wear gloves; goggles; apron; use eyewash fountain
5 Tempera
Highly toxic Highly toxic Hazards in pigments & preservatives; tetrachloroethane highly toxic; more toxic than carbon tetrachloride, causing severe liver damage Good hygiene; DO NOT USE tetrachloroethane
6 Fresco Paints Limewater moderately toxic Powdered lime highly corrosive Limewater moderately toxic Powdered lime is highly corrosive by eye contact Good hygiene; switch to formaldehyde-free painting medium; avoid inhaling pigment powder; use least toxic preservatives possible; wear gloves and goggles when handling lime; use eyewash fountain
7 Latex Paints Slightly toxic if glycols are present
Possibly toxic if the paint contains glycol ethers May contain glycols, mercury Don't use paints with mercury preservatives
8 NON-WATER BASED PAINTS




9 Oil Paints Pigment Poisoning Turpentine/mineral spirits moderately to seriously toxic Pigment poisoning; turpentine absorbed through skin Turpentine, mineral spirits moderately toxic by all routes of entry; they're irritants and narcotics; wood/steam-distilled turpentine more toxic than gum turpentine; turpentine washes very hazardous Good hygiene; replace turpentine with turpenoid/odorless mineral spirits; set up window exhaust fan; don't do turpentine wash; wear respirator w/organic vapor cartridges; neoprene gloves; reuse solvent; remove paint from hands with baby or vegetable oil
10 Alkyd and Other Solvent-Based Paints
Toxic
Pigment hazards; solvent-based paints more hazardous than oil paints; much more solvent exposure; toluene/xylene much more toxic than paints with mineral spirits; flammable Use powerful exhaust fan; wear NIOSH-approved respirator with organic vapor cartridges; eliminate ignition sources; use neoprene gloves; replace turpentine with turpenoid/odorless mineral spirits
11 Encaustic
Respiratory irritation from decomposition of waxes
Pigment hazard; fire hazard from heating wax Good hygiene; always cover containers of dry pigments; melt wax in double boiler or on hot plate; don't use flame; use lowest temperature feasible to minimize vaporization of wax
12 Epoxy Paints
Hardeners moderately toxic/ solvents in epoxy systems highly toxic Hardeners moderately toxic Pigment hazards; epoxy hardeners can cause large numbers of skin and respiratory allergies; solvents in epoxy systems can include aromatic hydrocarbons, which can cause irritation, narcosis, and liver damage Good hygiene; wear neoprene gloves and have very good ventilation; use an organic vapor respirator when working indoors
13 VARNISHES, LACQUERS, MEDIUMS Turpentine; methyl alcohol; ethyl alcohol; methylene chloride moderately toxic Turpentine; methyl alcohol moderately toxic; ethyl alcohol slightly toxic; toluene, xylene; methylene chloride highly toxic Turpentine; methyl alcohol moderately toxic; ethyl alcohol slightly toxic; toluene, xylene; methylene chloride moderately toxic Turpentine irritant/narcotic, can cause kidney damage/allergies; methyl alcohol affects nervous system/liver/kidneys; toluene, xylene absorbed through skin; n-hexane highly toxic/flammable/cause nerve damage; methylene chloride probable carcinogen Wear gloves; have good local exhaust ventilation; wear NIOSH-approved organic vapor respirator; take precautions against fire; place solvent-soaked rags in waste disposal can, & empty daily; wash hands with baby/vegetable oil; avoid methylene chloride
14 PRESERVATIVES Hazard for children Not sufficient hazard Not sufficient hazard Use of pure preservatives to add to art materials can be a hazard to the artist, depending on the preservative With children, use only materials & preservatives approved for children; use least toxic preservatives available; use gloves, ventilation, personal protective equipment
15 SPRAY PAINTING
Highly hazardous Accidental injection of spray into fingers from high-pressure spray guns Spraying of solvent-containing paints/aerosol spray cans with flammable propellants is fire hazard; spray guns/airbrushes/aerosol spray cans can produce fine particulate mist that remains in air for up to 2 hours; can cause headache/nausea/fatigue Use spray booth, exhausted to outside; wear NIOSH-approved respirator, w/toxic dust and mist, or organic vapor cartridges; use exhaust fan; don't spray w/ carcinogenic pigments; eliminate flames; avoid getting fingers in way
16 DRY DRAWING MEDIA




17 Pastels
Dust major hazard; may cause sensitivity in asthmatics; spray fixatives hazardous
Pastels can contain toxic pigments, including chrome yellow, cadmium, and manganese; poorly labeled; blowing off excess pastel dust increases amount of dust inhalation; n-hexane can cause nerve damage Avoid pigments containing lead chromate & other toxic pigments; don't blow off excess dust; tap drawing; wear NIOSH-approved toxic dust respirator; don't hand rub drawing; wet mop; switch to less dusty pastels; use exhaust fan and spray outside
18 Pencils, Graphite, Charcoal, and Chalks
Hazards with graphite, charcoal dust; solvent-based drawing gums, spray fixatives hazardous Solvent-based drawing gums hazardous Inhalation of large amounts of graphite over a period of years can cause a benign pneumoconiosis; blowing off excess charcoal dust is major cause of inhalation of charcoal dust; dustless chalks have binders added Avoid toxic pigments; don't blow off excess dust; tap drawing; wear NIOSH-approved toxic dust respirator; don't hand rub drawing; wet mop; use water-based drawing gums instead of solvent-based types
19 Oil Pastels, Oil Sticks, and Crayons Toxic pigments, such as lead chromate, hazardous Solvents hazardous Pigments are irritants; solvents hazardous Industrial crayons may have toxic pigments such as lead chromate; children's varieties should have only nontoxic pigments and extenders; oil pastels and sticks may also have toxic pigments Avoid crayons, oil pastels, or oil sticks containing lead chromate or other extremely toxic pigments; use window exhaust fan if you use solvents
20 LIQUID DRAWING MEDIA




21 Pen and Ink
Dyes and inks irritating; solvent-based inks containing toluene are highly toxic Solvent-based inks highly toxic if absorbed Water-based drawing inks normally not considered hazardous, although little is known about the hazards of the dyes used in some of these inks; solvent-based inks hazardous Do not airbrush solvent-based drawing inks, obtain MSDS's for the inks
22 Felt-Tip Markers
Xylene hazardous; ethyl and propyl alcohol less toxic, but irritating; methyl isobutyl ketone strongly irritating
Water-based felt-tip markers are normally not considered hazardous, although little is known about the dyes used; xylene-containing markers may cause dizziness, headaches, nausea if they're used without adequate ventilation Use water-based, or alcohol-based markers; use window exhaust fan when using large numbers of permanent markers, or when using them for extended periods of time






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Disclaimer
This information set forth herein is furnished free of charge and is based on public domain information that is believed to be reliable. The City of Tucson makes no warranty as to the completeness or accuracy thereof. The information is to be used at an individual's own risk.
This web site is sponsored by the City of Tucson's Environmental Management Division through an Environmental Justice Grant.

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