How hazardous is it actually to paint with oil paints? Are there serious health risks?
What exactly is dangerous?
Color pigments: there are some that can have a toxic effect, i.e. are poisonous. However, there is really only a serious danger with very few color pigments. For a long time, this was white lead, which is no longer used today for this very reason.
People usually use nut oil or linseed oil as a binding agent. This is safe.
The most problematic are the solvents that you require or use when painting with oil paint. Whether it’s turpentine oil to thin the paint or brush cleaner, both contain substances that are volatile. This means that some of these liquids already evaporate at room temperature. These fumes, which represent the usual scent of oil painting are quite aggressive. They can have a negative effect to the mucous membranes.
