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Art Safety - Painting & Drawing

Painting & Drawing Safety 

***UNDER CONSTRUCTION***

The health hazards associated with painting and drawing have been known since Ramazzini described such illnesses in 1713.  Working safely can involve changes in how you select your art materials and how you handle them.

NOTE:  For turpentine and thinners, use the pre-labeled jars supplied by the Art Department. Keep containers sealed or covered with foil when not in use.  Do not use food or beverage containers.

 

Chemical Safety Basics

  • Read the label.  Be sure you understand what you are working with and the associated hazards.
  • When transferring thinners and other chemicals from the original stock container to a new container:
  • Do not use drink containers.  Visual Arts supplies mason jars with lids and labels.
  • Cover or place a lid on the container when not in use to avoid evaporation and excessive vapors.
  • Label the new container with the contents and associated hazards.  The Art Department supplies labels for this purpose.
  • Ensure you have a safety data sheet.  Provide a copy to your Art Operations Manager, J. Gaston.

 

Pigments

Painters use pigments in oil paints, acrylics, watercolor paints, gouache, encaustic, poster paints, casein paints and tempera.  Sometimes commercial paints such as oil, enamel, epoxy paints and automobile paints are used.

Paints are pigments mixed with a vehicle or binder.  Both inorganic and organic pigments are used as colorants.  Dry pigments are especially hazardous because they are easily inhaled and ingested.  They are used in encaustic, paper marbleizing and in the fabrication of paint products, and will be discussed more thoroughly in the section below on pastels.

Pigments vs. Hues

Most paints used in Visual Arts do not contain metal pigments and are considered non-toxic.  These are most easily identified by the product name.  If the paint is described as hue, such as "chromium yellow hue", there is no (or too little to be concerned about) toxic metal contained in the product.

Hazards

  1. Poisoning can occur if toxic pigments are inhaled or ingested. The main hazard in standard painting techniques is the accidental ingestion of pigments due to eating, drinking or smoking while working, inadvertent hand to mouth contact, or pointing the paintbrush with the lips.  If methods such as spraying, heating, or sanding are employed then there is an opportunity for inhalation of toxic pigments.
  2. The classic example of a toxic inorganic pigment in paints is white lead, or flake white (basic lead carbonate).  Lead pigments can cause anemia, gastrointestinal problems, peripheral nerve damage (and brain damage in children), kidney damage and reproductive system damage.  Other inorganic pigments may be hazardous, including pigments based on cobalt, cadmium, and manganese.  (See Table 1)
  3. Some of the inorganic pigments, in particular, cadmium pigments, chrome yellow, and zinc yellow may cause lung cancer.  In addition, lamp black and carbon black may contain impurities that can cause skin cancer.
  4. Chromate pigments (chrome yellow and zinc yellow) may cause skin ulceration and allergic skin reactions (such as rashes).
  5. The long-term hazards of the modern synthetic organic pigments have not been well studied.

 

Precautions

  1. Obtain safety data sheets for your paints to find out what pigments you are using. This is especially important because the name that appears on the tube of color may or may not truly represent the pigments present.  Manufacturers may keep the name of a color while reformulating the ingredients.
  2. Use the least toxic pigments possible.  Do not use lead or carcinogenic pigments.
  3. Avoid mixing dry pigments whenever possible. If dry pigments are mixed, do it inside a glove box (a box with a glass or Plexiglas top and holes in the sides for arms) or inside a laboratory-type fume hood.
  4. Wet mop and wipe all surfaces when using dry pigments.
  5. Do not use dishes, containers or utensils from the kitchen to mix and store paints and pigments.

 

Water-Based Paints

Water-based paints include watercolor, acrylic, gouache, tempera, and casein.  Water is used for thinning and cleanup.

Hazards

  1. See section above for pigment hazards.
  2. Acrylic paints contain a small amount of ammonia.  Some sensitive people may experience eye, nose and throat irritation from the ammonia.  Acrylics and some gouaches contain a very small amount of formaldehyde as a preservative.  Only people already sensitized to formaldehyde would experience allergic reactions from the trace amount of formaldehyde found in acrylics.  The amounts can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
  3. Casein paints use the protein casein as a binder.  While water-soluble forms are available, casein can be dissolved in ammonium hydroxide which is moderately irritating by skin contact and highly irritating by eye contact, ingestion, and inhalation.
  4. All water-based paints contain a preservative to prevent mold or bacterial growth.  Sometimes artists add preservatives when they make their own paints.  Although present in small amounts, certain preservatives may cause allergic reactions in some people.

Precautions

  1. See section above for precautions when mixing dry pigments.
  2. If you add your own preservative, avoid using sodium fluoride, phenol or mercury compounds.  For tempera, a small amount of pine oil works for short periods of time.
  3. If you experience eye, nose or throat irritation while using acrylics, opening a window is usually sufficient; if not try a window exhaust fan.
  4. If you mix casein paints using ammonium hydroxide, you will need a window exhaust fan to provide ventilation.
  5. Wear gloves, goggles and a protective apron when handling ammonia.  An eyewash fountain should be available when handling ammonia.

 

Non-Water-Based Paints

Oil paints, encaustic, and egg tempera use linseed oil, wax and egg respectively as vehicles, although solvents are often used as a thinner and for cleanup.  Turpentine and mineral spirits (paint thinner), for example, are used in oil painting mediums, for thinning, and for cleaning brushes.  Alkyd paints use solvents as their vehicle.  In addition, many commercial paints used by artists also contain solvents.

Hazards

  1. See section above for pigment hazards.
  2. All solvents can cause defatting of the skin and dermatitis from prolonged or repeated exposure.  Turpentine can also cause skin allergies and be absorbed through the skin.
  3. Acute inhalation of high concentrations of mineral spirits, turpentine vapors, and other solvents can cause narcosis, which can include symptoms of dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, nausea, fatigue, loss of coordination, coma, as well as respiratory irritation.
  4. Chronic inhalation of large amounts of solvents could result in decreased coordination, behavioral changes, and brain damage.  Chronic inhalation of turpentine can cause kidney damage and respiratory irritation and allergies.  Odorless mineral spirits and turpenoid, in which the aromatic hydrocarbons have been removed, are less hazardous.
  5. Ingestion of either turpentine or mineral spirits can be fatal.  In the case of mineral spirits, this is usually due to chemical pneumonia caused by aspiration (breathing in) of the mineral spirits into the lungs after vomiting.
  6. Natural resins (copal, damar, rosin, Japanese Lacquer) may cause skin irritation or allergies.  Rosin dust can cause asthma.
  7. Encaustic involves suspending pigments in molten wax.  If the wax is overheated, flammable wax vapors and wax decomposition fumes are produced, which are strong respiratory irritants.
  8. Epoxy paints consist of an epoxy resin component containing the pigment, and a hardener component.  The epoxy resin may contain di-glycidyl ethers which are irritants, may cause bone marrow damage, and are suspect carcinogens.  Epoxy hardeners may cause skin and respiratory allergies and irritation.

Precautions

  1. Whenever possible replace turpentine or ordinary mineral spirits with the less toxic odorless mineral spirits.  Mineral spirits is also less flammable than turpentine, since its flashpoint is over 100 F (38 C), while turpentine has a flashpoint of 95 F, (35 C).
  2. Apply the same health and safety considerations for the use of "citrus" or "pine" solvents.  These have been found to be quite irritating to the skin and eyes.
  3. If possible, artists should set up their easel about 3 feet from a window that has a fan exhausting at work level and pulling the solvent vapors away from your face.
  4. Techniques such as turpentine washes will require a lot of ventilation because they result in the evaporation of large amounts of solvents in a short period of time.  Acrylic paint can be substituted for underpainting.
  5. Ventilation only needs to be provided while the solvent is evaporating from the canvas, not during the time while the oil paint film is drying (oxidizing).
  6. Wear neoprene gloves while cleaning brushes with mineral spirits or turpentine.
  7. Used solvent can be reclaimed by allowing the paint to settle and then pouring off the clear solvent.
  8. Paint can be removed from your hands with baby oil, and then soap and water.
  9. Wax should be only heated to the minimum temperature needed for proper flow of the paint.  Do not heat with an open flame or hot plate with an exposed element. During pregnancy and nursing, switch to water-based paints to avoid exposure to solvents. 

 

Airbrush, Spray Cans, and Spray Guns

Artists use many products in spray form, including fixatives, retouching sprays, paint sprays, varnishes, and adhesive sprays.  Airbrush, aerosol spray can and spray guns are used.

Hazards

  1. Spray mists are particularly hazardous because they are easily inhaled.  If the paint being sprayed contains solvents, then you can be inhaling liquid droplets of the solvents.  In addition, the pigments are also easily inhaled, creating a much more dangerous situation than applying paint by brush.
  2. Aerosol spray paints have an additional hazard besides pigments and solvents.  They contain propellants, usually isobutanes and propane, which are extremely flammable and have been the cause of many fires.  Other aerosol spray products such as retouching sprays, spray varnishes, etc. also contain solvents, propellants, and particulates being sprayed.
  3. Airbrushing produces a fine mist which is a serious inhalation hazard because artists work so close to their artwork.  Airbrushing solvent-containing paints is especially dangerous.
  4. Spray guns are less common in art painting but usually involve spraying much larger quantities of paint than either spray cans or airbrush.  Spraying solvent-based paints is a serious fire hazard.

Precautions

  1. See section above for precautions with pigments.
  2. Try to brush items rather than spraying if possible.
  3. Use water-based airbrushing paints and inks rather than solvent-based paints.
  4. Use spray cans or an airbrush in a spray booth if possible.
  5. If ventilation is not adequate, then respiratory protection is necessary while airbrushing or spraying.  Contact EHS for selection and fit-testing.
  6. Never try to spray paint by blowing air from your mouth through a tube.  This can lead to accidental ingestion of the paint.

 

Dry Drawing Media

This includes dust-creating media such as charcoal and pastels which are often fixed with aerosol spray fixatives and media such as crayons and oil pastels which do not create dust.

Hazards

  1. Pencil leads are made of graphite, rather than lead and are not considered a hazard.  Colored pencils have pigments added to the graphite, but the amounts are small so that there is no significant risk of exposure.  Over 10 years ago, a significant hazard in pencils was from lead chromate paint on the exterior of yellow pencils.  However, this has since been eliminated as a risk.
  2. Charcoal is usually made from willow or vine sticks, where wood cellulose has been heated without moisture to create the black color.  Compressed charcoal sticks use various resins in a binder to create the color.  Although charcoal is just considered a nuisance dust, inhalation of large amounts of charcoal dust can create chronic lung problems through a mechanical irritation and clogging effect.  A major source of charcoal inhalation is from the habit of blowing the excess charcoal dust off the drawing.
  3. Colored chalks are also considered nuisance dust.  Some chalks are dustier than others.  Individuals who have asthma sometimes have problems with dusty chalks, but this is a nonspecific dust reaction, not a toxic reaction.
  4. Pastel sticks and pencils consist of pigments bound into solid form by a resin.  Inhalation of pastel dust is a major hazard.  Some pastels are dustier than others.  Pastels can contain toxic pigments such as chrome yellow (lead chromate) which can cause lung cancer, and cadmium pigments (which can cause kidney and lung damage and are suspect human carcinogens).  Blowing excess pastel dust off the drawing is one major source of inhalation of pastel pigments.  Pastel artists have often complained of blowing their nose different colors for days after using pastels, a clear indication of inhalation.
  5. Crayons and oil pastels do not present an inhalation hazard, and thus are much safer than pastels.  Some oil pastels can contain toxic pigments, but this is only a hazard by accidental ingestion.
  6. Both permanent and workable spray fixatives used to fix drawings contain toxic solvents.  There is high exposure by inhalation to these solvents because the products are sprayed in the air, often right on a desk or easel.  In addition, you can be inhaling the plastic particulates that comprise the fixative itself.
  7. Never try to spray fixative by blowing air from your mouth through a tube.  This can lead to accidental ingestion of the fixative.

Precautions

  1. Use the least dusty types of pastels, chalks, etc.  Asthmatics, in particular, might want to switch to oil pastels or similar non-dusty media.
  2. Spray fixatives should be used with a spray booth that exhausts to the outside.  If the use of spray fixatives is occasional, you can use them outdoors with a NIOSH-approved respirator equipped with organic vapor cartridges and dust and mists filter for protection against inhalation of solvent vapors and particulates.  An exhaust fan is also needed to remove organic vapors and particulates.
  3. Don't blow off excess pastel or charcoal dust with your mouth.  Instead, tap off the built-up dust so it falls to the floor (or paper on the floor).
  4. Wet-mop and wet-wipe all surfaces clean of dust.
  5. If inhalation of dust is a problem, a respirator may be appropriate.  Contact EHS for selection and fit-testing.

 

Liquid Drawing Media

This includes both water-based and solvent-based pen and ink and felt tip markers.  Hazards of dry erase or white board markers can be considered here, although they are more used in teaching or commercial art.

Hazards

  1. Drawing inks are usually water-based, but there are some solvent-based drawing inks.  These usually contain toxic solvents like xylene.
  2. Permanent felt-tip markers used in contain solvents.  Xylene, which is a highly toxic aromatic hydrocarbon, is the most common ingredient; newer brands often contain the less toxic propyl alcohol (although it is an eye, nose and throat irritant).  The major hazard from using permanent markers results from using a number of them at the same time at close range.

Precautions

  1. Use water-based markers and drawing inks if possible.
  2. Alcohol-based markers are less toxic than aromatic solvent-based markers.
  3. Solvent-based drawing inks and permanent markers should be used with good dilution ventilation (e.g. window exhaust fan). Never paint on the body with markers or drawing inks.  Body painting should be done with cosmetic colors.

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