Artists tackle toxic materials

Some say creativity requires a touch of madness. The stereotypical artist is an irritable, unstable and depressed individual, perhaps an insomniac or prone to delirium. These traits also happen to be symptoms of chronic low-level poisoning, and many art supplies contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals such as arsenic, lead and mercury. Exposure to these materials was a frequent cause of accidental death in artists and craftsmen prior to the twentieth century.

Painters work with pigments that may contain heavy metals like lead, sculptors might inhale particles of plaster and clay, glass workers can be exposed to arsenic and photographers in dark rooms may work with chemicals like cyanide and mercury preservatives. Ceramic glazes sometimes contain cadmium, chromium, and lead and, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, firing glazes in a kiln can further release toxins into the air.

Many people use art to channel their passions. For those who love the environment, using toxic oils to paint a landscape can be a painful contradiction. However, more artists are finding ways to green their palettes and raise awareness of environmental issues through their work.

Baltimore artist Amy Faust crafts jewelry out of found objects while the Australian owners of Flat Bottle fashion old bottles into cheese platters and incense holders. Meanwhile, the plastic-filled bellies of photographer Chris Jordan's Midway birds serve as a visceral reminder of the destruction caused by throwaway societies.

In the 1970s, artists became concerned about the hazards in their workplace and campaigned to have warning labels put on the materials they use. People had been for the most part ignorant of the precautions that should be taken around such highly toxic substances. Artists would regularly smoke, drink, eat and sleep in the same room as open cans of turpentine, drying paint and other fumes. A National Cancer Institute study conducted in 1981 found that artists had two to three times above average rates of cancer and other chronic illnesses.

Art supplies must be identified under the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act of 1988. The nonprofit organization Art and Creative Materials Institute also evaluates products and awards a non-toxic label to those that meet government standards, though some argue that government standards do not necessary mean "non-toxic." Turpentine is now banned in many schools, and vegetable-based solvents have begun to replace hydrocarbon chemicals. For the most part, it is up to you to inform and protect yourself.

To reduce your risk of exposure to toxic materials, keep all work areas clean, avoid dusts and powders, limit the use of solvents and don't chew your paintbrush or eat in the same room. You might also consider wearing gloves and goggles when working with particularly hazardous substances.

You don't need to be an artist to appreciate a painting or photograph. It's a mark of civilization, alternately inspiring, baffling and educating. If done mindfully, it can also a great way to save resources and foster community. Rather than turn on the television, you might design a mural, write a song or build the most elaborate beer castle ever to grace a coffee cable. For more information about making sustainable art, Crafting a Green World and Toxic Nation offer a list of eco-minded art companies and supplies.