Title: Section 10: Painting and Drawing | Environmental Health & Safety | Baylor University
Headings: Section 10: Painting and Drawing
Section 10: Painting and Drawing
► Pigments
► Water-Based Paints
► Non Water-Based Paints
► Airbrush, Spray Cans and Spray Guns
► Dry Drawing Media
► Liquid Drawing Media
Pigments
Water-Based Paints
Non Water-Based Paints
Recommendation: During pregnancy and nursing, switch to water-based paints to avoid exposure to solvents.
Airbrush, Spray Cans, and Spray Guns
Dry Drawing Media
Liquid Drawing Media

Content: Hazards
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. 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. Airbrushing produces a fine mist which is a serious inhalation hazard because artists work so close to their art work. Airbrushing solvent-containing paints is especially dangerous. Spray guns are less common in art painting but usually involve spraying much larger quantities of paint than either spray cans or airbrush.