Pouring Paint Safety
Since the onset of the pandemic acrylic paint pouring has become a popular art and craft activity, and many manufacturers have sprung up that sell acrylic pouring paints. Some of these products contain expoxy resins, which should not be used without protection. If you have epoxy pouring paints or mediums, you need to wear an organic respirator to protect your health.
With all pouring paints plenty of airflow and ventilation is highly recommended – there will always be SVOC fume emissions, although the manufacturer may not make an acknowledgement of this fact. Keep paint away from skin contact and best work in a dry environment with fans for airflow. Or work outside. Some products also require eye protection!
Avoid working in damp, cold environments!
Pour painting is an innovative way to use acrylic paints to create an art piece. Instead of using tools like brushes or knives to create a piece of art, fluid paints can be poured directly onto the surface and the canvas tilted to move the paint around.
A simple definition is: Acrylic Paint Pouring is the method of making acrylic paint flow in a variety of ways to create pleasing patterns that are usually abstract in nature.[7] Pouring paints allows for the colors to blend naturally as they come in contact with each other. This technique can be done either one color at a time, or with multiple paints to maximize color blending.
Pour painting can also be done with oil paints, but because those paints take a longer time to dry, the piece would have to be done over an extended period of time, or with wet paints.[2] However, the subtle effects of the interaction of different liquid colors on drying can be partially lost during the drying process. (Wiki).
Many types of pouring paint are cheap, low grade acrylics which are known to have significant and often undocumented hazards. For instance the toxic ethyl acrylate is often found, rather than the less toxic MMA acrylate variety which is found in high grade acrylics. There are likely to be emissions from Formaldehyde or vinyl chloride.
Below are some of the chemicals with acute or high toxicity that we recently found in common brands of pouring paint:
2-Methylpropan-1-ol
- Hazard statements H226
H315 H318 H335 H336
danger
Flammable liquid and vapour. Causes skin irritation.
Causes serious eye damage.
May cause respiratory irritation. May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Bronopol
is a pesticide
acute skin toxicity
carcinogenic
highly corrosive – eye toxicity
Ethyl Acrylate
Highly flammable liquid and vapor.
May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
Causes skin irritation.
May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child.
May cause damage to organs (Central nervous system) through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Toxic to aquatic life.
Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
For other typical SVOCs (semi volatile organic compunds) found in artist acrylics see: