Regardless of the origin of the oil and any additives, you should not consider paints safe to ingest. Keep them on the palette and the painting, and they’ll pose no unusual health risk. Pigments can be as benign as common dirt or as harmful as many other chemicals are to the human body.

Can they make you sick? Paints can cause irritation if they get onto your skin. They can also be potentially harmful when swallowed, particularly oil-based paints. Additionally, the fumes from these types of paints can irritate your eyes, nose, or throat.

Oil paints are not toxic There are toxic ones, of course, such as lead-white, cadmium, and cobalt. But these are only toxic if you eat them or breathe in particles. You would struggle trying to breathe in oil paint. As long as you wash your hands after use, you should be absolutely fine.

Of all oil painting materials solvents are the most hazardous to your health as they have fumes that will fill the air in your room. Oil paint pigments do not have fumes, so you cannot breathe it in. But solvents do have toxic fumes and therefore it is recommended to always keep the jar closed.

Generally, oil-based and enamel paint and solvents won’t cause harm to your skin if left on for a brief period. However, you should avoid getting oil-based or enamel paint and solvents on your skin, and in your eyes. Some people may experience respiratory irritation by breathing in paint fumes.

Oil-based paint fumes contain potentially poisonous hydrocarbons and high levels of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which perform numerous function in paint and evaporate as it dries. The most significant health effects of oil-based paint are due to polluted air from VOCs, inhalation and poisoning.

Wearing a mask is a good idea too. One of the biggest problems with oil painting is the cleaners. Since you’re going to be using oils, you will not be able to wash the paint from your hands and brushes with water. You could use these paints outside in the rain and it wouldn’t hurt them.

VOCs from paint dissipate fairly quickly with most offgassing occuring during the first 6 months after application. Other sources, such as particle board may continue to offgas for 20 years or more.

Good Ventilation. If you cannot avoid using solvents (and even if you can!) it’s always a good idea to paint in a well ventilated space. Have a window or 2 open to allow for air and any fumes to circulate.

These solvents emit heady fumes which can cause headaches, and can dry your skin. In addition to this some of the pigments in oil paint possess an element of toxicity, and prolonged exposure to skin is not recommended.

Some painters choose to wear gloves while painting, as it makes clean-up easier. However, it is not necessary to wear gloves while oil painting. Oil colors can be easily removed from hands with soap and water. We recommend wearing gloves and using a respirator when handling dry pigments.

Organ Damage and Allergic Reactions. The EPA cautions that exposure to oil-based paint may also cause organ and central nervous system damage, although it is unclear which compounds are most toxic and what levels are considered harmful. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid using or inhaling oil-based paint.

When using oil paints, slathering paint on oneself and cleaning it off with solvent poses the greatest risk. Common sense and careful studio practices are crucial to keeping the paint on the painting and off the body.

Many people refer to the unpleasant smell of oil paints and so choose to stay away. Others do not like the idea of working with toxic materials for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they are health or environment conscious, or they are pregnant or have small children or pets around.

Oil-Based Paint and Cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency states that some VOCs are known to cause cancer in both animals and humans, while others have been insufficiently studied for their risk factors. Extent and length of duration probably influence the risk level.