Note: due to the increasing awareness of toxins, many manufacturers are choosing less toxic chemicals or switching from organics to synthetic manufacturing alternatives. Oft times they will keep the same paint name - for instance, Ivory black is no longer made from burnt ivory and PCB contamination will decrease over time with proper use, elimination, and disposal of toxins. Each manufacturer will also use a different chemical composition for similarly named paints so the MSDS is required for each manufacturer.
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Note from the author: The most frequent concern I hear is a fear that a colour palette using only non-toxic hues will be limited. I create my own artwork with the least toxic paints available and I do not use solvents such as turpentine to thin the oil paints or clean my brushes. I use a combination of linseed oil (not raw linseed oil, which may cause yellowing of whites) and stand oil to thin the paints as well as a non-toxic brush cleaner.
Check out my work!
| Lamp black contains carbon and is a human carcinogen. Repeated skin contact can lead to skin cancer due to impurities. Inhalation can cause chronic respiratory irritation. Lamp black is made from the soot of burning coal plus naphthalene that is then collected off of the tent material the lamps are burned in. |
| Nickel compounds cause a high frequency of skin allergies - "nickel itch", skin irritations, skin ulcers and is also an eye irritant. Inhalation of nickel dust may lead to lung and nasal cancer. It is not clear whether all nickel compounds cause cancer. Inhalation can cause upper respiratory irritation. Acute ingestion causes intestinal disorders and irritation. Acute inhalation or ingestion may cause |
| barium poisoning (intestinal spasms, heart irregularities, and severe muscle pain) and in case of ingestion: chromium poisoning (gastroenteritis, vertigo, muscle cramps, and kidney damage). Chronic inhalation may cause lung cancer, perforation of the nasal septum, and respiratory allergies. Skin contact with |
| lead chromate can cause allergies, irritation, and skin ulcers. Chronic inhalation may cause lung cancer, perforation of the nasal septum, respiratory irritation and allergies, and lead poisoning. Ingestion can cause immediate chromium poisoning (gastroenteritis, vertigo, muscle cramps, and kidney damage) and delayed lead poisoning. |
| All chromium hues are a suspected carcinogen. Can cause skin and respiratory irritation and allergies. Causes cancer in animals and possibly in humans. May produce allergic reaction by skin contact or inhalation resulting in nodules under the skin or in the lungs. May cause ulcers of the nose and skin. Contains zinc chromate. Exposure by inhalation can produce lung cancer, perforation of the nasal septum, and respiratory allergies and irritations. |
| Manganese blue contains soluble barium and can cause skin, eye, nose, and throat irritation. Inhalation or ingestion can cause barium poisoning with symptoms of heart irregularities, intestinal spasms, and severe muscle pains. Chronic poisoning is most likely. Note: the current chemical composition of oil paint Winsor & Newton is the chemical phthalo - in 1994 the EPA listed phthalo as no threat to the environment or humans under reasonable conditions Manganese dioxide can cause a serious nervous system disease resembling Parkinson's disease. Early symptoms include apathy, loss of appetite, weakness, spasms, headaches, and irritability. back to top of page |
| Cobalt pigments may cause damage to the heart by ingestion. May produce allergic reaction by skin contact, especially at the elbows. Chronic inhalation may cause asthma and possible fibrosis. Ingestion may cause acute illness with vomiting, diarrhea, and sensation of hotness. Additional hazards from cobalt violet - skin contact may cause burning, itching, and ulceration. Acute, fatal poisoning can result from ingestion. Chronic ingestion or inhalation can cause digestive disturbances in addition to liver, kidney, blood (malformation of blood cells), and peripheral nervous system damage. Additional hazards from cobalt yellow - ingestion may cause acute poisoning with symptoms including fall in blood pressure, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and cyanosis Chronic effects from small doses include a drop in blood pressure, headache, rapid pulse, and visual disturbances (hallucinations). |
| All cadmium hues are human carcinogens and cancer agents by inhalation. Chronic inhalation or ingestion can cause kidney damage, anemia, loss of sense of smell, gastrointestinal problems, and bone, teeth, and liver damage. Might be associated with prostate and lung cancer. Additional hazards from cadmium vermilion - contains also mercuric sulfide. Can cause skin allergies. Inhalation or ingestion can cause mercury poisoning, which can severely damage the nervous system and kidneys.. *Note: As of 2001 Cadmium is listed among the top twenty worst toxins and will soon be banned in some areas of manufacture., |
| Antimony white - Skin contact can cause severe lesions, including ulcers. Acute ingestion or inhalation can cause metallic taste, vomiting, diarrhea, severe irritation of the mouth and nose, slow shallow breathing, and pulmonary congestion. Chronic exposure can cause loss of appetite and weight, nausea, headache, sleeplessness, and later, liver and kidney damage.. |
| Diarylide, and benzedine yellow are suspected carcinogens and are tertogens. They are contaminated by PCBs that can cause cancer, birth defects, and chloracne. |
| Flake white is a tertogen and suspected mutagen. Both acute and chronic ingestion or inhalation can cause lead poisoning. Inhalation is more of a problem than ingestion. Lead affects the gastrointestinal system (lead colic), red blood cells (anemia) and the neuromuscular system (weakening of the wrists, fingers, ankles, and toes). Other common effects include weakness, headaches, irritability, malaise, pain in the joints and muscles, liver and kidney damage, and possibly birth defects. |
| Lithopone contains zinc sulfide. Might react through ingestion with stomach acid to produce the highly toxic gas hydrogen sulfide. Danger through ingestion only. |