Title: Painting and Drawing | Office of Environmental Health and Safety
Headings: Painting and Drawing
Painting and Drawing
Introduction
Chemical Safety Basics
Pigments
Pigments vs. Hues
Hazards
Precautions
Water-Based Paints
Hazards
Precautions
Non Water-Based Paints
Hazards
Precautions
Airbrush, Spray Cans, and Spray Guns
Hazards
Precautions
Dry Drawing Media
Hazards
Precautions
Liquid Drawing Media
Hazards
Precautions
Staff

Content: Other inorganic pigments may be hazardous, including pigments based on cobalt, cadmium, and manganese. ( See Table 1)
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. Chromate pigments (chrome yellow and zinc yellow) may cause skin ulceration and allergic skin reactions (such as rashes). The long-term hazards of the modern synthetic organic pigments have not been well studied. Precautions
Obtain MSDSs on 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. Use the least toxic pigments possible. Do not use lead or carcinogenic pigments.