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: Well, think twice before you start redecorating. Chemicals from paint can cause serious health problems - both for those who apply them, whether they are professionals or DIY enthusiasts - and those who have to live in the house afterwards. There are also hidden dangers in ­apparently simple procedures such as removing old wallpaper and replastering. ‘People leap into decorating without ­giving a second thought to the risks involved,’ says Dr Richard Deacon, a ­Lancashire-based GP. ‘ Decorating ­products need to be handled with care. You need to read the labels carefully. It’s actually a bit like handling medicine.’ So what are the risks - and how can you avoid them...
Hidden dangers: Paints used in the home often contain harmful chemicals and compounds that are inhaled by the decorator when they dry
PAINTING
Paints used in the home contain ­potentially harmful chemicals such as ­solvents and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). ‘ When the paint dries, these chemicals evaporate into the air where the hapless decorator can inhale their toxic fumes,’ explains Dr Deacon.