Exposure to these chemicals if inhaled, ingested or absorbed through skin can cause health problems such as skin rashes, lung damage, and poisoning.  Activities such as spraying, sanding and dry-mixing can release dust particles and chemical vapors into the air.

General safety tips:

• Read and understand the label and MSDS (material safety data sheet); follow instructions; use products in accordance.
• Use the least toxic product available,
• Use products with the ACMI (Arts and Crafts Material Institute) label with AP (approved label): http://acminet.org .
• Use adequate ventilation in the classroom so that contaminants are removed from the air,
• Label and store supplies properly,
• Keep dust to a minimum by damp mopping, use a HEPA vacuum, cleanup thoroughly.
• Do not allow eating or drinking in the classroom.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Limit/supervise access by young children to solvent-based glues, adhesives paints and fixatives.

Avoid: Products that come in powder or aerosol form. Examples include clay in dry form, powdered paints, glazes, pigments,  and aerosols (spray paints & fixatives); Substitute: Wet or liquid brush-on products.

Avoid: Hazardous solvent-based products. Examples include rubber cement, turpentine and other paint thinners, and permanent and white board markers; Substitute: Water-based glues, paints, markers.

Avoid: Materials that contain lead or other heavy metals. Examples include some paints, glazes, and enamels; Substitute: Products that do not contain heavy metals.

Avoid: Cold water dyes, powdered dyes, or commercial dyes dissolved in solvents; Substitute: Vegetable dyes (onion skins, etc.).

Avoid: Instant papier-mâché, which may contain asbestos fibers or lead or other metals from pigments in colored printing inks; Substitute: Papier-mâché made from black and white newspaper, or white paste.

Avoid: Spray fixative for matting artwork; Substitute: Brush on adhesives.

Helpful links:

General

Art & Craft Safety Guide: http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5015.pdf

Safety Guide for Art Studios: http://www.monmouth.edu/academics/art/ArtSafetyGuidelines.pdf    

Health & Safety in the Arts:  http://tucsonaz.gov/arthazards/

Health Hazards and Safety Tips for Artists:  http://www.cheminfonet.org/art/art_safety.pdf   

Painting               

                http://www.tucsonaz.gov/arthazards/paint3.html

                http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/artsafety/sec10.htm

Ceramics

http://www.cheminfonet.org/art/ceramics1.pdf

http://www.tucsonaz.gov/arthazards/ceramic.html

http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/artsafety/sec12.htm 

ACMI Statement on Talc in Art Materials (pdf)         

Metal Working

http://www.tucsonaz.gov/arthazards/metal1.html

http://www.toolboxtopics.com/Gen%20Industry/Metalworking%20Fluids.htm

Photography

                http://www.tucsonaz.gov/arthazards/photo1.html

                http://www.bw-photography.net/pdfs/Health%20Hazards.pdf                                                                                               

Woodworking

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/wooddust/index.html

http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/pdf/bulletins/bltn238.pdf

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis1.pdf            

Printmaking

http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/artsafety/sec13.htm

http://www.tucsonaz.gov/arthazards/print.html