BluedemonX
Health issues?
« on: 12. Jul 2002 at 16:56 »
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Let's get the obvious ones out of the way. Don't eat paint. Don't tip your brushes by sticking them in your mouth. Do that, and you'll end up painting objects with "haloes", cutting your ear off, and going insane from poisoning.
However, here are some other things I see in the videos and in studios which give me pause.
1) Solvents, oils etc. - how do you mitigate fumes, exposure, etc?
2) Using the hand to blend/remove paint - is this really that good an idea, considering the toxic metals used in some paints? What is the skin absorption rate of these materials? Anyone with haz-mat experience wanna tell us?
3) Clean-up: I'm kinda loath to bung my brushes in a sink - knowing that somehow cadmium and turpentine are flowing toward the drinking water supply...
Any thoughts?
Ben
Re: Health issues?
« Reply #1 on: 13. Jul 2002 at 09:58 »
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Let's get the obvious ones out of the way. Don't eat paint. Don't tip your brushes by sticking them in your mouth. Do that, and you'll end up painting objects with "haloes", cutting your ear off, and going insane from poisoning.
However, here are some other things I see in the videos and in studios which give me pause.
1) Solvents, oils etc. - how do you mitigate fumes, exposure, etc?
If your concerned, don't use such materials in an enclosed space.
2) Using the hand to blend/remove paint - is this really that good an idea, considering the toxic metals used in some paints? What is the skin absorption rate of these materials? Anyone with haz-mat experience wanna tell us?
Taking a bath may cause you to slip and fall, and split your skull wide open.
3) Clean-up: I'm kinda loath to bung my brushes in a sink - knowing that somehow cadmium and turpentine are flowing toward the drinking water supply...
People urinate and poop in the streams and rivers for thousands of years and still do today - how's that grab you?
Any thoughts?
Your a worry wort aren't you?
Don't worry yourself sick over these things. In your worry you may indeed hurt yourself or someone else.
Nevertheless here are some rules I go by:
1) Solvents, oils etc. - how do you mitigate fumes, exposure, etc?
Work outside, or if indoors, with windows open, or with ventilation - do not smoke around flammible liquids.
If you feel lightheaded - stop and exit the room to outdoor air.
2) Using the hand to blend/remove paint - is this really that good an idea, considering the toxic metals used in some paints? What is the skin absorption rate of these materials? Anyone with haz-mat experience wanna tell us?
Re: I have worked with far more toxic chemicals than what artists use. general rule I follow, is to clean hands when finished painting. I may be thick skinned, if your that concerned, better consult your doctor beforehand to verify if you have any allergies with the products used to paint and subsequent clean-up - it is up to you to find out for You and what is ok for you, may not be ok for others.
3) Clean-up:
a) - soak brushes in turpintine
b) - dip brushes in lacquer thinner, wipe with paper towel, discard towel outdoors
c) - wash brushes thoroughly with dishwater soap and hot water
d) wash your hands alone when done with brush clean-up
NOTE: laquer thinner should not be used as a soak - but a means to remove turpintine.
Nylon brushes and plastic handles will melt with the volatile substances - wood, steel, hair fibered brushes only when using such harsh chemicals - otherwise you risk ruining your brushes.
Opened containers will evaporate such volatile chemicals as Laquer and Acetone -
Turpintine is refined and is similar to kerosene, and diesel fuel. They require heat to ignite, and are not prone to evaporation as is Laquer thinner and Acetone which is as flammible as gasoline.
Do not use laquer thinner, acetone near an open flame, nor in enclosed spaces - a slight headache is the first sign of prolonged exposure - go outside and breath clean air.
With all chemicals so labled - Keep container out of reach of children.
Read the warning lables.
« Last Edit: 13. Jul 2002 at 10:42 by Ben »
BluedemonX
Re: Health issues?
« Reply #2 on: 15. Jul 2002 at 09:57 »
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RE: If your concerned, don't use such materials in an enclosed space.
Thing is, what I'm asking is, is a fan and an open window good enough? Or are some industrial machines a better idea?
RE: Taking a bath may cause you to slip and fall, and split your skull wide open.
No, I'm serious. Van Gogh didn't realise he was burning out all his neurons... we know now.
RE: People urinate and poop in the streams and rivers for thousands of years and still do today - how's that grab you?
There is nothing inherently poisonous about urine, and chlorine kills faecal bacteria. However, you cannot treat cadmium with chlorine or ozone. I'm not very happy about what we do to our water, which is why I only drink steam distilled water.
RE: Your a worry wort aren't you?
No, just trying to start a useful discussion.
RE: Work outside, or if indoors, with windows open, or with ventilation - do not smoke around flammible liquids.
If you feel lightheaded - stop and exit the room to outdoor air.
It should NEVER get to the "lightheaded" stage.
RE: I have worked with far more toxic chemicals than what artists use. general rule I follow, is to clean hands when finished painting.
Chronic toxicity can be a problem.
RE: b) - dip brushes in lacquer thinner, wipe with paper towel, discard towel outdoors
What do you do with the lacquer thinner?
RE: c) - wash brushes thoroughly with dishwater soap and hot water
And the hot water goes down the sink?
RE: Opened containers will evaporate such volatile chemicals as Laquer and Acetone -
eep.
RE: Turpintine is refined and is similar to kerosene, and diesel fuel. They require heat to ignite, and are not prone to evaporation as is Laquer thinner and Acetone which is as flammible as gasoline.
See, this is good to know, which is why I asked
Ben
Re: Health issues?
« Reply #3 on: 15. Jul 2002 at 11:09 »
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Please don't do the line by line thing - very annoying.
Blue, your worries are a bit extreme.
Like I had previously stated: Read and follow the directions.
What is your agenda with this post?
Are you hoping to persuade others into supporting a ban on Painting? Drawing? Sculpting? Ceramics? Photography? Working?
Think about the implications your enviromental concerns have on the population as well as yourself.
We could stop doing everything we do, but it wouldn't be long before hungry stomachs wage war against those who instigated the conditions that led to the suffering of the masses.
« Last Edit: 15. Jul 2002 at 11:10 by Ben »
BluedemonX
Re: Health issues?
« Reply #4 on: 15. Jul 2002 at 11:24 »
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My only goal is to get people to share tips on how they deal with lead, turpentine, cadmium, and other toxic substances, and how they limit the risks of exposure to some of these compounds.
That's all.
I'm not advocating an end to art, or legislation against it - it's just that, if I'm surrounding myself with toxic chemistry I'd like to know the best ways to mitigate the risks with respect to myself and the environment. That's all.
If Van Gogh had known he was ingesting something that was killing off his brain cells, maybe he'd have worked a bit differently.
Ben
Re: Health issues?
« Reply #5 on: 15. Jul 2002 at 11:31 »
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Open your windows, place a standard fan there - if you live in a house, an electric attic fan will do fine - (Elect. Attic fans are one step down from air conditioning.)
In cold months, and your using a gas furnace, your better off to clean your brushes outside.
Turpintine isn't as big a hazard inhalationwise as Laquer Thinner or Acetone. It doesn't emit vapors as does the latter - of course, you don't want to be sticking your nose in the jar sniffing light aroma.
Leave such containers of flammables outside when not using - out of reach of children and away from flame of course.
Ben
Re: Health issues?
« Reply #6 on: 15. Jul 2002 at 11:39 »
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Blue,
So far as mitigating and reducing the risks of being in contact with the chemicals, use common sense first - any thinning, cleaning chemical should not be used without immediate clean-up using soap and water after each use or direct exposure (ie, spilled container in lap)
Under normal use, paints and their thinning agents are safe- if they weren't they would be off the shelf.
So far as Van Gogh is concerned, ingesting paint as in eating paint? wasn't bright to begin with. Paint is not food. Van Gogh may have been a few bricks short a wall when he began.
BluedemonX
Posts: 83
Re: Health issues?
« Reply #7 on: 15. Jul 2002 at 12:02 »
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It was customary at one time for artists to "tip" their brushes by sticking them in their mouths - the saliva caused the brush to regain its tip, so that painting could continue.
Van Gogh painted a LOAD of canvases. He also used a LOT of Cadmium colors - oranges and yellows, and "tipped" often.
As a result of his constant "tipping", he ingested enough paint to burn out portions of his brain.
The way he painted later in life (vibrant colors, color haloes) was symptomatic of cadmium poisoning.
Ben
Re: Health issues?
« Reply #8 on: 15. Jul 2002 at 12:49 »
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I've tipped brushes myself, but I am not going to say it is a good idea - remember, I am a bit thicker skinned, others may not be.
One thing about Van Gogh - He didn't die of poisoning - He committed suicide - He may have been nuts before he started painting - also, we must remember, that medical knowledge wasn't as it is today. People are going to die, simply because they live. Expiration from this world is a sure thing.
I go on the notion that when my time is come, there is nothing no one can do about it - all the kings horses and all the kings men, are incompetents - the world cannot stop what is ordained of God.
As many places a person can be born, in just as many the same will die. As many ways as a man can live, just as many, a man can die.
Makes no difference how we go, we are going.
That is how I look at it, and I choose not to worry about these things - I don't go out of my way to endanger myself or others, but I certainly don't worry about this or that 24/7. It is futile.
Ben
Re: Health issues?
« Reply #9 on: 15. Jul 2002 at 13:07 »
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http://www.antiquetalk.com/vangogh.htm
After my last reply, I had just read this little article on Van Gogh.
There are others out there, I am sure.
