Art supplies

It is important to be safe when using art supplies. Determining if the supplies are toxic or not can be a nice way to improve safety.

Toxic chemicals included in art supplies can make the products dangerous to use for artists who are not careful around them. It is always best to choose fresh products which will pose less of a risk to an artist. In order to improve safety, check these things:

• Labels – The label on art supplies should somewhere read “conforms to ASTM D 4236.” What this means is that the product being used conforms to the labeling hazardous materials act. The labels here will be easily recognized and readable. A label like this can alert you to hazardous material. The label could also include a warning about what might happen if the chemicals are ingested or come into contact with skin.

• Manufacturers – Manufacturers of art supplies in most places are required to be specific about what kinds of items are in their art supplies. A person who is hoping to know the exact chemical composition of the supplies he or she has can contact the manufacturer and get a complete list. This is especially important to do if the original label has been scrubbed off or torn away.

Because American manufactures must follow specific protocol in creating and labeling art supplies, it may be better to use American supplies than it would be to buy foreign supplies that may or may not be deemed safe and non-toxic.

 

 

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