Friday 20 November 2015

Grade 10 Art - Day 48 "Safe Use of Materials"

Why is it important to know about the toxicity of art materials? 

In the artist's studio, many dangerous chemicals may be found.  It is important to consider the toxicity of art material so that you may protect yourself when using them and respond to a potential first aid scenario that may arise from working with said materials.

Let's talk about spray paint as an example of a commonly used art material.  For this example, I grabbed a can of Rust-oleum "Painter's Touch", a fast-drying oil-based spray paint readily available at hardware stores.

The can comes with immediate warning symbols as to its contents.  They look like this:


If you are not familiar with these symbols, they will mean nothing to you.  Therefore, I include he following symbol explanations for your reference:


After reviewing this chart, you can see that the contents are flammable, toxic (or poisonous), and explosive!! Most of this information can be found on the side of the can.  However, if you want even more detail you can visit the website of the manufacturer to read the safety data sheets (MSDS) on safe use of this product:

After viewing the safety data sheets, it is easy to see why precautions are necessary when working with this product!!

Remember, this is only one product that may be found in an artist's studio.  Familiarize yourself with the products that are available to you...so that you may lead a long, healthy life!


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