Expert: Patti - 1/8/2011

Question
Dear Patti, I was just wondering if you know of any professional or good quality eco friendly acrylic paints? Thanks for your help!

Answer

Hi Liz,

Most acrylics are fairly eco friendly. You'd need to be more careful if you were working in Oil paints and solvents.

Acrylic paint is basically pigment floating in liquid plastic (polymer) that eventually solidifies. The pigments that are suspended in a polymer medium can be toxic (in very large volumes). Acrylic paints generally have low toxicity. Some pigments have a risk of adverse effects if excessive inhalation exposure occurs, so in general you should avoid inhalation by not applying as a spray and by wearing respiratory protection if previous work is sanded. There is a low risk of toxicity from skin exposure to acrylic paints.

Pigments containing metals such as: cobalt, cadmium, phtalocyanine (phalo), lead or manganese compounds would the ones to watch out for, and should not be inhaled. This would be particularly true if you were working with powdered pigments, as it's often advised not to breath pigment dust. While specific to such pigments, this guidance applies to all artist paints in general. Normal usage of acrylic paint does not require special personnel protection equipment. Wash hands to remove skin exposure, should it occur. Acrylic paints are considered stable and non-reactive.

Earth pigments such as: yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw umber, burnt siena, green earth, mars violet, ultramarine blue, hooker's green, the quinacridones (gold,and magenta), naphtol red, and titanium white, are non-toxic pigments.

If you're throwing away tubes of acrylic paint that still have paint in them, they are not considered hazardous waste in the usual volumes.

Visual art is not an ecologically sound activity unless you are stacking rocks or building sand castles. Egg tempera is one of the more environmentally safe binders, then again pigment is still a concern. With most art materials you are looking at bad to worse with regards to environmental dangers. Materials may be labeled "non-toxic" but that doesn't mean biodegradable or edible.

I hope that helps!
Best of luck,

Patti