Health & Safety in the Arts
A Searchable Database of
Health & Safety Information for Artists


Sculpture
ID Sculpture Tech Ingestion Haz Inhalation Haz Skin Contact Haz Other Hazards Precautions
1 PLASTER




2 Plaster Mixing & Setting Potassium sulfate & alum slightly toxic, borax moderately toxic, lime highly toxic Dust irritating, borax moderately toxic, lime highly toxic Potassium alum slightly toxic, borax slightly toxic, burnt lime moderately toxic Acetic acid highly corrosive Wear dust mask; vacuum or mop dust; don't sweep; wear gloves & goggles
3 Plaster Modeling & Carving
Silica sands, vermiculite dust highly toxic
Sharp tools cause accidents; chips can damage eyes Wear dust mask; clean up dust by wet mopping or vacuuming; carve away from you; if tool falls, don't try to catch it; wear safety goggles
4 Casting in Plaster Benzine highly toxic Benzine moderately toxic Benzine moderately toxic Benzine flammable; making plaster casts can cause burns Wear gloves and goggles; store in safety containers; don't use near open flames; don't use plaster for body-part casts; use plaster bandage
5 Finishing Plaster Powdered pigments haz. Powdered pigments haz., lacquers highly toxic Powdered pigments haz., lacquers moderately toxic, alcohol,shellac slightly toxic Solvents flammable; spraying acrylics highly haz. Wear dust mask, gloves, goggles; spray in spray booth; use respirator, good ventilation; keep solvents away from flames; brush/dip plaster
6 STONE




7 Soft Stone Carving
Silica highly toxic; asbestos highly toxic Flying chips/rocks can injure eyes Falling tools can injure; lifting can damage back Don't use stones w/asbestos; wear dust respirator; vacuum/wet mop; wear goggles, protective shoes; carve away from you; lift properly
8 Hard Stone Carving
Silica highly toxic; dust hazardous
Noise hazard; vibration can damage hands; risk of electric shock Tools should have portable exhaust systems; make sure tools are grounded; wear ear plugs; have hand grips; direct air blast away from you; tie hair back
9 Stone Casting
Calcium oxide highly corrosive; silica highly toxic Calcium oxide highly corrosive to eyes; moderately corrosive to skin
Wear respirator; vacuum/wet mop; have exhaust system; wear goggles, gloves
10 Lapidary
Quartz gemstones highly toxic (silica); opal slightly toxic
Gem cutting machines create high noise levels Wear hearing protectors; install ground fault circuit interrupters; keep motors away from water
11 Stone Finishing
Dust haz.; tripoli (silica) highly toxic Pieces of stone & dust haz.
Use local exhaust ventilation; use wet sanding/polishing technique, wear safety goggles, face shield, respirator; tie back loose materials
12 MODELING MATERIALS
Silica highly haz.; talcs w/asbestos highly haz.
Firing clay in kiln can release toxic gases Don't use asbestos-contaminated talcs; buy premixed clay; use ventilation, respirator; wet mop; wear special clothes to work in
13 Nonhardening Modeling Clays
Sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory problems Turpentine or preservatives can cause skin irritation
Use gloves; apply barrier cream to hands if skin irritation results
14 Hardening Modeling Clays Baking in oven also used for food can contaminate food

Many contained di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a carcinogen Don't bake oven-hardening clays in ovens used for food; don't use clays containing DEHP, also called dioctyl phthalate
15 WAX Benzine, turpentine moderately toxic Wax vapors highly irritating; alcohol/ acetate slightly toxic; benzine, turpentine moderately toxic Alcohol/acetone slightly toxic; benzine, turpentine moderately toxic Explosions; carbon tetrachloride extremely toxic; chlorine waxes highly toxic Don't overheat waxes; don't use open flame to melt waxes; use least haz. solvent to dissolve wax; don't use carbon tetrachloride/chlorinated synthetics
16 PLASTICS




17 Acrylic Resins
Methyl methacrylate moderately toxic Methyl methacrylate moderately toxic; benzoyl peroxide slightly irritating Benzoyl peroxide flammable; acrylic polymer dust sensitizer Wear gloves; use good local exhaust ventilation or window exhaust fan; use respirator; use care w/ benzoyl peroxides; wear dust mask
18 Amino & Phenolic Resins Formaldehyde highly toxic Formaldehyde highly toxic; phenol highly toxic Formaldehyde moderately toxic; phenol highly toxic Formaldehyde carcinogen; carbon monoxide, cyanide released Avoid formaldehyde; wear gloves w/amino & phenolic resins; use adequate local exhaust ventilation; follow mixing instructions carefully
19 Epoxy Resins
Respiratory irritants; amine hardeners highly toxic Moderately toxic; amine hardeners moderately toxic Diglycidyl ethers carcinogenic; solvents toxic Wear goggles, gloves; use local exhaust ventilation, window exhaust fan, respirator; prevent fires from flammable solvents
20 Polyester Resins
Styrene highly toxic, cobalt naptha moderately toxic, dimethylaniline highly toxic Styrene moderately toxic, cobalt napthalene moderately toxic, dimethylaniline highly toxic Styrene carcinogenic, fiberglass skin & respiratory irritant, solvents flammable Wear gloves, protective goggles; use local exhaust hood, respirator, spray booth; clean up spills; use barrier cream; store solvents safely
21 Polyurethane Resins
Isocyanates extremely. toxic; amines moderately; fluorocarbons slightly toxic Amines moderately toxic; organotin highly toxic Heating releases haz. solvents; dust irritant to skin & respiratory system Don't use them if you have respiratory problems; use spray booth, respirator; wear gloves, goggles
22 Silicones & Natural Rubbers
Acetic acid irritating; methanol moderately toxic; n-Hexane highly toxic Silicone resin moderately toxic; rubber latex irritating Methylene chloride highly toxic by inhalation, 111-trichloroethylene toxic Use water-based or heptane-based adhesives; use ventilation; wear gloves, goggles; people w/heart problems shouldn't use methylene chloride products
23 Organic Peroxides

Cumene hydroperoxide moderately toxic; benzoyl peroxide slightly toxic Highly flammable & explosive; MEK peroxide causes blindness Don't store peroxide in glass container; don't store large amounts; don't add accelerator to peroxide or acetone to MEK peroxide; don't heat; do soak tools/containers in water before disposal
24 Finished Plastics
Polymer dusts irritating; heat produces highly toxic gases
Solvents highly toxic; haz. gases released, can be carcinogenic Use good ventilation, cooled tools, respirator; have dust-collectors on tools; vacuum/wet mop dust; wear gloves, goggles; use low toxic. solvents
25 Plastics Additives
Organic phosphate esters highly toxic; DEHP carcinogenic Organic phosphate esters haz.
AVOID asbestos, phosphate esters, DEHP; wear respirator






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Disclaimer
This information set forth herein is furnished free of charge and is based on public domain information that is believed to be reliable. The City of Tucson makes no warranty as to the completeness or accuracy thereof. The information is to be used at an individual's own risk.
This web site is sponsored by the City of Tucson's Environmental Management Division through an Environmental Justice Grant.

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