Avoiding Hazardous Pigment Dust in Art

It is common for artists to use sandpaper in the creation of art. Artists will often prepare a canvas or panel for painting by starting with a layer of white acrylic gesso. As additional layers are added, they are sanded smooth so the surface will not have any bumps or ripples that might distort the final image. There is a problem with hazardous dust in the materials used here.

All three white pigments used in art materials are hazardous when inhaled! Lead white (Flake White) is obviously a problem, but so are titanium white and zinc oxide. Titanium white is listed as a carcinogen by the International Agency for research on Cancer (IARC), and manufacturers are required to list it as such on their MSDS reports, although they rarely do. Zinc oxide is hazardous when inhaled, and is also a poor choice to use due to possible problems with peeling, flaking, and brittleness (http://www.mrs.org/s_mrs/sec_subscribe.asp?CID=11333&DID=216013&action=d...).

Some artists wear face masks when sanding, in order to avoid inhaling dust. While this is a step in the right direction, it is certainly inadequate. When the mask is removed, dust is released into the air around the face. During sanding, dust is scattered about the room, accumulating on clothing and furniture. In contrast, manufacturers are required by workplace laws to maintain safety guidelines. When working with hazardous materials they are required to wear safety glasses, lab coats, dust respirators and gloves. This may not be the “costume” of choice for working artists.

So what can an artist do if a smooth painting surface is desired? Here are some suggestions: 1) Try purchasing professionally made canvas, with the finish of your choice. Let the manufacturer deal with the dust. 2) When using an acrylic or oil-based ground, try applying it with a small roller, instead of a brush. Smooth rollers can be found at most hardware stores. They are usually about 4 inches wide, a good width for working on canvas. 3) Try thinning the acrylic gesso with a small amount of acrylic polymer medium, mixed 50% with water. This works so long as you pay close attention, not allowing any bumps to occur in the early layers. It is also very important add only a small amount of medium mixture to the gesso, to avoid brittleness and maintain absorbency for the paint to adhere.

Hopefully, with these ideas, you will be able to maintain the ideal surface for painting, while avoiding the problems of hazardous dust.