{"id":339075,"date":"2025-05-08T20:52:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T20:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sentryair.com\/blog\/?p=339075"},"modified":"2025-05-08T20:52:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T20:52:58","slug":"respiratory-hazards-of-making-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sentryair.com\/blog\/health-risks-safety\/respiratory-hazards-of-making-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Respiratory Hazards of Making Art"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Fume extractors help protect artists from different respiratory hazards such as soldering and adhesive fumes produced while making jewelry (SS-225-FS pictured)<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>
\nArtists 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\u2019s and fumes into the air. Art studios should consider possible respiratory hazards and implement fume extractors to protect students and fellow artists’ health. <\/p>\n

Ceramic Artists and Sculptors<\/h3>\n

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Dried clay dust contains silica, which poses respiratory hazards to the artist.<\/p><\/div>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. <\/p>\n

Silica Dust Respiratory Hazards<\/h4>\n

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)<\/a>. Silicosis is the formation of scar tissue in the lungs, which reduces the lungs\u2019 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. <\/p>\n

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Metal Sculptors & Jewelry Makers<\/h3>\n

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Metal sculptors use welding techniques to create art, which releases metal dust and fumes into the air.<\/p><\/div>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.<\/p>\n

Metal Dust & Fumes Respiratory Hazards<\/h4>\n

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)<\/a>. 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)<\/a>. 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)<\/a>. Metal-based artists should ensure their workspace has proper ventilation or air filtration to reduce exposure to harmful metal dust and fumes.<\/p>\n

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Painters<\/h3>\n

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Painters are exposed to solvent fumes and VOCs from oil-based paint and using paint thinners.<\/p><\/div>Painters use oil-based paint that releases solvent vapors containing VOCs into the air (Phase Associates)<\/a>. Also, paint visual artists use paint thinners to thin oil-based paint and to clean brushes. <\/p>\n

Solvent Fumes and VOCs Respiratory Hazards <\/h4>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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Film Photographers<\/h3>\n

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Film photography darkrooms utilize a variety of different chemicals that can produce harmful fumes.<\/p><\/div>Developing film and prints exposes photographers to a variety of chemicals, including acids, alkalis, metal salts, oxidizing agents, and solvents (Marlenga 1993). <\/a><\/p>\n

Developing Chemicals Respiratory Hazards<\/h4>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Fume Extraction Solutions for Artists<\/h2>\n
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