Respiratory Hazards of Making Art

Fume extractors help protect artists from different respiratory hazards such as soldering and adhesive fumes produced while making jewelry (SS-225-FS pictured).

Artists come in contact with a variety of materials and substances that pose respiratory hazards. Art materials such as clay can create airborne silica dust that can be harmful if inhaled. Making jewelry and creating metal sculptures can expose artists to metal fumes, dust, and possibly lead fumes. Also, paint, paint thinners, and other art supplies contain solvents that evaporate and release harmful VOC’s and fumes into the air. Art studios should consider possible respiratory hazards and implement fume extractors to protect students and fellow artists’ health.

Ceramic Artists and Sculptors

Dried clay dust contains silica, which poses respiratory hazards to the artist.

Ceramic artists can encounter silica dust when mixing dry clay and glazes. Clay contains crystalline silica and can produce clouds of silica dust when loading or mixing dry clay into a mixer. Also, ceramic artists can be exposed to silica dust when working with dry glaze ingredients. Similarly, sculptors are exposed to silica dust when carving stone such as sandstone, soapstone, slate, or granite.

Silica Dust Respiratory Hazards

Silica can be found in soil, sand, granite, and other minerals. Silica becomes tiny airborne dust when silica-containing materials are chipped, cut, drilled, or ground. According to OSHA, silica inhalation can cause lung cancer or silicosis, a disabling and sometimes fatal condition (OSHA). Silicosis is the formation of scar tissue in the lungs, which reduces the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen. This condition has no cure and can lead to lung infections. Artists should take preventative measures by using ventilation, N95 masks, or other engineering controls to reduce the inhalation of silica dust.

Metal Sculptors & Jewelry Makers

Metal sculptors use welding techniques to create art, which releases metal dust and fumes into the air.

Metal sculptors use welding and other fusing techniques to create art forms. Welding produces metal dust and fumes that can easily be inhaled. Also, jewelry makers use lead-based solders to fuse metals together.

Metal Dust & Fumes Respiratory Hazards

Exposure to metal dust and fumes can have lasting health effects, depending on the type of metal involved. For example, stainless steel contains chromium, and exposure can cause lung irritation or lung cancer (CDC 2019). Similarly, carbon steel contains iron, which can cause metal fume fever, a condition that exhibits flu-like symptoms with long-term exposure causing a buildup of iron in the organs called siderosis (New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, 2007). Also, soldering with lead-based solder exposes the jewelry-maker to lead fumes, which can cause an array of health side effects such as abdominal pain, altered moods/depression, decreased lung function, and more (CDC 2024). Metal-based artists should ensure their workspace has proper ventilation or air filtration to reduce exposure to harmful metal dust and fumes.

Painters

Painters are exposed to solvent fumes and VOCs from oil-based paint and using paint thinners.

Painters use oil-based paint that releases solvent vapors containing VOCs into the air (Phase Associates). Also, paint visual artists use paint thinners to thin oil-based paint and to clean brushes.

Solvent Fumes and VOCs Respiratory Hazards

Inhalation of VOCs can cause asthma, bronchitis, and lung irritation. Also, depending on the type of solvent, paints and paint thinners can exhibit neurotoxic properties, causing headaches, dizziness, or cognitive impairment.

Film Photographers

Film photography darkrooms utilize a variety of different chemicals that can produce harmful fumes.

Developing film and prints exposes photographers to a variety of chemicals, including acids, alkalis, metal salts, oxidizing agents, and solvents (Marlenga 1993).

Developing Chemicals Respiratory Hazards

In film development, chemical exposure can be small for each chemical, but adverse effects can occur due to the combination of chemical exposures (AAOHN Journal). The stop bath contains acetic acid, which can cause bronchitis if vapors are inhaled repeatedly. Darkrooms need to ensure that the room has proper ventilation and air filtration in order to help reduce exposure to chemical fumes.

Fume Extraction Solutions for Artists

Art studios should implement fume extractors and air filtration systems to help reduce airborne contaminants produced from art activities. All of our systems from Sentry Air Systems utilize high-quality filters and can be configured to use dual filters to capture both particulate (metal dusts, silica, etc.) and fumes (VOCs, solvent vapors, chemical fumes, etc.). Our systems are ductless, meaning the system does not need external ductwork and doesn’t require makeup air production. These units create a recirculating airflow by drawing the air into the filtration chamber, capturing most airborne contaminants, and releasing the filtered air back into the surrounding room.

Benefits of Sentry Air Fume Extractors

• High-quality filtration options (HEPA, ASHRAE, ULPA, activated carbon, and specialty-blended filter media [ammonia, aldehyde, and acid gas])
• Dual filter compatible (for capturing particulate and fumes)
• Self-supportive capture arms that can be easily moved to the fume source
• Constructed of all flame-retardant materials, including the filter media and flex hose (Model 300 & 400 capture hose only)
• Low maintenance – only need to change the filter
• Easy installation – plug and play
• Simple operation – turn on and direct the arms
• Free chemical assessment
• Expert support

Single User Portable Fume Extractor

The single-user portable fume extractor provides powerful airflow and high-quality filtration to help protect against respiratory hazards created from art activities. This fume extractor is available in three models, offering different airflows. Filter choice depends on the application. Please consult your Sentry Air Systems Application Specialist for the best-suited air flow and filter choice for your application.


Model	Model 225	Model 300	Model 400	Model 450
Recommended Activities	Jewelry Making Soldering	Ceramics Painting Metal sculptors Jewelry Making	Ceramics Painting Metal sculptors Jewelry Making
Included Features	ON/OFF Button	Variable Speed Controller Portability Handle Heavy duty casters
Arm Dimensions	43” L	68” L	72″ L
Approximate Airflow	up to 91 CFM	up to 350 CFM	up to 700 CFM	up to 877 CFM
Sound Level	65 dba	61-66 dba	60 dba	70 dba

Multiple Operator Fume Extractors

For art studios with multiple artists or classroom environments, the multi operator fume extractors offer powerful fume control yet provide economical solution. The base models 300, 400, and 450 are equipped with two or four 48” long flex arms to allow one air filtration unit to service up to four artists. These systems are ideal for ceramic studios, painting artist groups, art classrooms, metal sculpture collectives, and jewelry-making studios.


Arm Configuration	Dual			Quad
Type	Model 300	Model 400	Model 450	Model 300	Model 400	Model 450
Airflow (per arm)	up to 175 CFM	up to 350 CFM	up to 438.5 CFM	up to 87.5 CFM	up to 175 CFM	up to 219.25 CFM

Wall-Mounted Fume Extractors

Our efficient Model 300 and Model 400 Fume Extractors are also available in a wall-mounted configuration. This unit provides vital fume extraction for space-constrained workspaces without taking up valuable benchtop or floor space. Mounting on the wall also eliminates trip hazards. Likewise, this unit can be mounted on a fume extractor stand if wall space is not feasible. The Model 400 unit is available with 2 capture hoses to provide an engineering control for two operators at the same time. This system utilizes a combination capture arm with 15” long stainless-steel ducting and 32” long flexible arm. These wall-mounted fume extractors provide an economical solution for ceramic studios, photography darkrooms, painting artist collectives, art schools, and jewelry studios.