Title: Paint fumes can trigger asthma and cancer: Hidden dangers of decorating | Daily Mail Online
Headings: Will doing up the front room make you ill?
Will doing up the front room make you ill?
There are also hidden dangers in ­apparently simple procedures such as removing old wallpaper and replastering.
So what are the risks - and how can you avoid them...
SANDING FLOORS
VARNISHING
WALLPAPERING
TACKLING MOULD
INSTALLING INSULATION
LAYING CARPET

Content: The fine particles of powder can also irritate the skin. Irritant: The fine dust from floor sanding machines can be easily inhaled by the user
SOLUTION: Wear an anti-dust mask and keep hands covered. Or try wet sanding, which uses a ­special type of sanding paper which is rinsed repeatedly ­during the process — this means fewer dust particles are released into the air, making it ­easier on the lungs and skin. VARNISHING
As with paint, varnish used on woodwork can contain VOCs that, when inhaled, can cause ­headaches, eye, nose, and throat irritation. A study ­published by the British Medical Association’s journal Thorax found that ­children exposed to these ­chemicals were four times more likely to suffer from asthma than those who were not. In animals studies, VOCs have been linked to cancer. SOLUTION: Work in a room with the windows open — even better if you can, work outdoors, and protect skin with solvent-resistant gloves.