Health

Art Hazards and handling Art Materials

http://www.library.wwu.edu/ref/subjguides/art/arthazards.html

Web Sites on Art Hazards, Health Issues, and Safety

 
paintboxMaterial Handling Safety and Studio Safety
bullet cyan triangleHealth & Safety in the Arts: A Searchable Database of Health & Safety Information for Artists
      http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/home.html
Provides important material data on all crafts and art techniques (textiles, photography, painting, pottery, printmaking, jewelry, etc.)  Includes descriptions of specific processes or techniques,  hazards, and suggested precautions & handling.
This Web site is sponsored by the City of Tucson's Environmental Management Division through an Environmental Justice Grant.
  • Studio Safety Includes sections on: Storage, disposal, flammables, general information, protective equipment.
  • Database of Art Mediums  Charts hazards by specific medium
  • Art Hazards Links
    • bullet cyan triangleOccupational Safety & Health Resource Directory
    Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology Oregon.  http://www.croetweb.com/
  • General Information - -links to web sites & articles on general safety & health issues
  • Studio Safety - - Ventilation; Ergonomics; General Studio Safety
  • Information by Craft - - Ceramics; Glass; Metalworking;  Painting; Photography; Sculpture; Woodworking
    • bullet cyan triangle MSDS sites on the Internet Material Data Safety Sheets
           http://www.ilpi.com/msds/index.html#Internet

    Books in the Western Libraries
    Search the Library Catalog using these suggested headings

    Artists - - Diseases and Hygiene
    Lead Poisoning
    Hazardous Substances
    Safety Devices and Measures
    Industrial Safety
    Woodwork- - Safety Measures
    Art Hazards News v.11 no.4 1988-v.21 n.3 1998
    Periodical  Wilson 5 East N1.A647

    Artist Beware
    RC963.6.A78 M32 1992

    The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide
    Reference RC963.6.A78 R67 2001

    The Artist's Resource Handbook
    N8600.G69 1994

    Encyclopedia of Clinical Toxicology: a comprehensive guide and reference to the toxicology of..., chemicals....
    Reference RA1193.R67 2002

    Environmental Health Perspectives: EHP. (Indexed by Government Periodicals on the Web, via Environmental Universe)
    Wilson 5W -Periodicals RA565.A1 E13

    Health Hazards in the Art Room - - Kraus Curriculum Development Library, 17 pages.
    Wilson 2W - Microfiche  LB1570.K7 VPA K-139

    Health Hazards Manual for Artists
    Reference RC963.6.A78 M324 1985

    Genium's Handbook of Safety, Health, and Environmental Data for Common Hazardous Substances.  Schenectady, NY: Genium Pub. Corp.; New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999.
    (CD-ROM)   Reference TS175.M37

    Presents chemical profiles for over 4,500 materials. Profiles contain comprehensive listing of physical data, health and toxicity effects, disposal, and regulatory information.

    Search Databases and the Internet using these suggested headings
     

    "artist" AND "chemical" AND "hazard"
    "artist" AND "hazard"
    "art" AND "hazard" AND "studio "ceramic" AND "hazard"
    "woodworker" AND "hazard"
    "oil" AND "paint" AND "hazard"
    "artist" AND "chemical"    		 "art" AND "chemical" AND "pregnancy"
    "glaze" AND "hazard"
    "art" AND "material" AND "hazard"
    "arts" AND "crafts" AND "materials"
    "safety "AND "art"
    "ceramic" AND "lead"

    Art Index online  1984- ; in print, (1929-1994) located in Periodicals Wilson 1E N1.A59.

    Bibliography of the History of Art

    Environmental Universe

    ProQuest Research & ProQuest Medical Databases

    TOXNET  National Library of Medicine. Cluster of databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related areas.

    Household Products Database http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm
    You can type in keywords and find products.  Each product will list health effects and a list of ingredients.  You can then click on the ingredients to see what other products contain that ingredient.

     

    Selected  Journal Articles
     

    Art Materials Safety  E.L. Kinnally for www.PixelatedPalette.com  (NEW)
    This article is intended to raise artists’ awareness of the various hazards of the techniques and materials they use.

    Arts and Crafts Can Be Hazardous  Shirley Niemeyer, Extension Specialist, Home Environment Wendy Rich, Graduate Student. Online.

    Exposing Ourselves to Art.  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.  Online.
    http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1997/105-3/focus.html

    Health  Labeling  Of  Artists ’ Materials.  Reprinted from ASTM Standardization News, “ASTM’s Role in Improving Health Labeling of Artist’s Materials” by Benjamin Gavett, Oct. 1995. Online.

    Health Hazards and the Potter: 10 Article Anthology.  Studio Potter 1987, v. 15 (June), p. 19-90.
    Wilson 5E NK3700.S86

    Josephs, Susan. The Perils of Painting.  ArtNews, 1999, v. 98, no. 11, Dec, p. 164-166.
    Wilson 5E Oversize  N1.A6

    Summary: Discusses the hazards to artists of working with potentially toxic materials, and outlines ways of becoming informed and protecting oneself from health- or life-threatening substances.  Notes:  Source of data: BHA, Bibliography of the history of art.
    Karlen, Peter H. "Chemicals can be Dangerous to Your Art." Artweek v. 17,  (July 26, 1986, August 23, 1986), p. 8, 8.
    Wilson 5E Oversize  N1.A78

    Kotz, Mary Lynn.  Can Making Art Be Hazardous to Your Health?.  Art News  1981, v. 80 4, Apr, p. 68-76.
    Wilson 5E Oversize  N1.A6

    Summary:  Growing numbers of experts say that many art materials are dangerous, and artists claim that serious illnesses are caused by some products. A New York congressman is sponsoring legislation requiring cautionary labeling. (Art News).
    Notes: Source of data: RILA, International repertory of the literature of art.
    Lesser, Steven.  Metalworking Hazards and Metal Fume Fever.  Sculpture 1997, v. 16, no. 4, Apr, p. 39-41.
    Wilson 5E NB1.S381
    Summary:  Reports on hazards for artists working in metal and how to deal with them; includes a list of artists' health resources.
    Notes:  Source of data: BHA, Bibliography of the history of art.
     Mc Cann, Michael. Health Hazards in Art.  Art Journal 1975, v.34,4 (summer), p. 304-313.
     Wilson 5E  N81.A886
    Summary: Discusses hazards to artists' health posed by materials they use, covering these topics: affected elements such as lungs, blood, and nervous system; types of materials, such as solvents and aerosol sprays; and media, such as painting, photography, printmaking. (Staff). Notes: Source of data: RILA, International repertory of the literature of art.
    Rossol, Monona. "Accent on Safety." Shuttle, Spindle, and Dyepot.  Regular column.
    Wilson 5W  TT848 .S53

    Rossol, Monona. "First Things Come First: Studio Safety." Surface Design Journal (Spring 1994): 4-5.
    Wilson 5E  NK8800.S95

    Saitzyk, Steven.  Excerpts from ART HARDWARE: The Definitive Guide to Artists’ Materials. 1987 online

    Staggs, Sam. "Poisonous Muse." ArtNews v.87 (December 1988), p. 18.
    Wilson 5E Oversize  N1.A6
     

     

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