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Elizabeth Klein

Ms. Allison Hays

Chemistry Honors

16 March 2017

The Problem with Paint

For centuries, artists have been making, mixing, and using paint. Ancient painters used

materials like vermillion and orpiment to create the bright paintings one can now see in museums

around the world. Through the passage of time, many of these dated methods were dropped for

more modern, less toxic substitutes. However, in many cases, todays painting supplies still

come with consequences. Unless special precautions are taken, many painting materials can

produce negative, long-lasting health effects in their users.

When considering the toxicity of oil-based paints, the main concern is pigments.

Pigments are dry, colored powders which are mixed with bases to form different shades of paint.

While not usually dangerous when combined with such bases in a liquid form, pigments can pose

many harmful effects when dry. Take cadmium red, for example. Composed of a binder, a

stabilizer, and pigment (Grant), cadmium paint is not usually considered a threat to artists.

However, cadmium alone, element Cd, is a highly toxic metal.

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It can cause cancer and targets the bodys cardiovascular system when the paint is ingested or

inhaled in its pigment form (OSHA). After cadmium-based paint dries, this problem may occur.

However, cadmium is not the only type of pigment that is known to produce negative health

effects in its users.

Cobalt blue pigment is the product of cobalt(II) oxide and aluminum oxide (Cobalt

Blue). After long periods of inhalation, the substance can cause lung damage and respiratory

complications (Arts and Crafts). Chromium pigments, or chromium(III) oxide, are used

when creating different shades of green. This material is known to be a carcinogen when use is

prolonged. Antimony gives certain specialty paints a sheer, glaze-like texture. It is mixed into

paint in the form of antimony(III) oxide. This material is linked to causing skin cancer in its

users after long-term use. Each of these substances can produce harmful effects in artists, yet are

not labelled for doing so. When an artist picks up a tube of paint, they are technically notified by

a label which signifies that the product contains potentially hazardous chemicals. However, this

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is not done in a way that stresses the careful and meticulous caution that must be taken when

using the material.

(Cobalt Oxide) (Chromium Oxide) (Antimony Oxide)

Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act of 1998, all consumer products which pose

a threat to human health must be labelled for doing so (Toxic Art...). While this act does play

a large role in allowing artists and hobbyists decide which materials are right for them, it does

not do all it can to protect consumers. The labels on art supplies are often a single stamp

signifying that the substance may or may not be hazardous. They do not warn of long-term

consequences if use is prolonged, and do not list these effects.

A good example of the proper labelling of art materials is turpentine. One of the most

common types of painting solvents, turpentine is a liquid derived usually from pine trees. It

consists mainly of alpha-pinene, a colorless liquid alkene with a molecular structure of CH

(Alpha-Pinene). Alpha-pinene is toxic, and is known to cause irritation of the lungs, nausea,

headaches, confusion, and dizziness (Hazardous Substance). High exposure may cause

seizures, a coma, and even long-term kidney damage. On most labels for turpentine, the

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consequences of increased exposure are mentioned. Many labels warn not to ingest or inhale the

solvent, fully deterring users from doing so.

By including this information, companies are giving their buyers the whole truth. While

a simple label does tell an artist to be cautious, it does not elaborate on the various health

complications that may arise from prolonged use. For this reason, the labelling laws of art

supplies must be revised so that artists may better evade the negative consequences of toxic

substances.
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Works Cited

Alpha-Pinene. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of

Medicine, www.pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/alpha-pinene#section=Top.

Accessed 13 Mar. 2017.

Cadmium. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, United States Department of

Labor, www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.

Cobalt Blue. ColourLex, 5 Jan. 2017, colourlex.com/project/cobalt-blue/. Accessed 15 Mar.

2017.

Grant, D. "Arts and Crafts Safety in the Home." Consumers' Research Magazine, vol. 74, no. 2,

Feb. 1991, p. 35. EBSCOhost, http://tinyurl.com/janmz3g. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.

Grant, D. Toxic Art: Is Anyone Sure Whats In A Tube of Paint? Observer, 19 Oct. 2016,

http://tinyurl.com/hdgbjbx. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.

Hazardous Substance Data Sheet. Hazardous Waste Handbook for Health and Safety, Aug.

1987, pp. 295303., http://tinyurl.com/c5zffps. Accessed 15 Mar. 2017.

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Organization Information is very Information is Information is The information

organized with somewhat organized somewhat organized, appears to be
well-constructed into paragraphs. but paragraphs are not disorganized.
paragraphs. well-constructed.

Quality of Information Information clearly Information clearly Information relates to Information has little or
relates to the main relates to the main the main topic. No ties nothing to do with the
topic. It includes three topic. It provides 1-2 to chemistry; and/or main topic.
or more ties to ties to chemistry; and/or examples are given.
chemistry. Ties are examples.
explained in detail.
Includes Specific
Examples
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Mechanics No grammatical, Almost no grammatical, A few grammatical Many grammatical,

spelling or punctuation spelling or punctuation spelling, or punctuation spelling, or punctuation
errors. errors errors. errors.

Paragraph Construction All paragraphs include Most paragraphs Paragraphs included Paragraphing structure
introductory sentence, include introductory related information but was not clear and
explanations or details, sentence, explanations were typically not sentences were not
and concluding or details, and constructed well. typically related within
sentence. concluding sentence. the paragraphs.

Diagrams & Diagrams and Diagrams and Diagrams and Diagrams and
Illustrations illustrations are neat, illustrations are illustrations are neat illustrations are not
( Includes Chemical accurate and add to the accurate and add to the and accurate and accurate OR do not add
Formulas) reader's understanding reader's understanding sometimes add to the to the reader's
of the topic. of the topic. reader's understanding understanding of the
of the topic. topic.

Sources All sources All sources All sources Some sources are not
(information and (information and (information and accurately documented.
graphics) are accurately graphics) are accurately graphics) are accurately
documented in the documented, but a few documented, but many
desired format (MLA). are not in the desired are not in the desired
All images are properly format. format.
cited.

Chemical Concepts At least one chemical One chemical concept A chemical concept is No Chemical concepts
concept is explained in explained, but not mentioned, but not explained
detail, and how it necessarily in its own enough detail is given.
relates to the topic. paragraph and in detail.

Chemical Formulas Chemical Formulas and Missing some of the Chemical Formulas and No Chemical Formulas
the proper names chemical Formulas and the proper names
included. Picture of the the names. Picture or included.
atom, or Molecules drawing of the chemical
included. is included

Grade - 32/32 = 100