Introduction
Painting is one of the most creative and fun activities but is it really all that safe? While painting can be a fun activity for kids, we need to assure that the supplies we are using aren’t toxic. Even with non-toxic paints, choking and irritation could prevail, especially in the long-term. Personally, we have learnt that paint and all related supplies should remain out of reach of pets and kids.
Eating all types of toxic and non-toxic paint could result in long-term organ damage, mental disabilities and even death in both pets and kids. Lead-based paint is the most dangerous as it could contribute to lead poisoning in both humans and animals.
Could kids or pets die from eating paint?
Serious long-term effects of eating paint could lead to death!
Paints with organic substances and toxic chemicals can cause high blood pressure, nervous system damage, organ damage and mental disabilities in kids, and death in the worse conditions.
Long-term effects of paint poisoning can actually be dangerous, to the extent that it can cause death in kids. Toxic paints in particular, could cause brain damage and affect the behavioral growth in children, making them prone to organ damage in the long run.
What about non-toxic paints - are they safe?
Non-toxic paints are usually made of ingredients that are inorganic. Since non-toxic paints avoid organic materials, therefore the strength of the constituents is extremely low. And hence, they could not cause the same drastic side effects and damage as toxic paints can.
However, non-toxic paints are safer to work with, the level of safety does not mean it is safe to eat or consume, whether it’s for pets or animals.
How is lead-based paint dangerous?
Lead is a very dangerous chemical for health!
Lead-based paint can cause long-term damage to the brain and also hinder proper growth in kids.
Lead based paints could cause so much internal damage that it could even lead to severe organ failure. Lead was a major constituent in wall paints. One major aspect about lead poisoning through paint is that it could affect both kids and pets. And if your pet has been poisoned by lead-based paint, then you and your kids will be under the same threat too.
In fact, lead-based paints are so harmful that they were banned in the United States in the late 70s. Here is all you need to know about lead poisoning .
What would happen after eating oil-based or solvent-based paints?
Other than the fumes of oil-based paints, ingestion could cause equal harm!
Oil-based paints contain intense chemicals that could disrupt health through fumes and ingestion alike.
Not all oil paints are highly toxic, however the spirits and materials used to work out the painting are dangerous and toxic. A substance like turpentine could not only cause lung damage and breathing problems via inhaling, but also through ingestion. These materials are also highly inflammable, so it’s best to keep them in a safe and cool place, away from both pets and kids.
PRO-TIP
be careful while working with oil paints
Have you ever wondered why oil painting requires a well-ventilated place? Since oil paints and its solvents emit a lot of fumes, they could lead to lung damage and breathing problems. Moreover, it's also best to wear gloves while working on an oil painting to protect your skin too.
We highly recommend you use these gloves while oil painting.
Vinyl gloves
Use this pack of gloves each time you're working on an oil painting. And remember to keep them tucked away!
Could latex-based paints lead to life-threatening conditions?
Latex-based paints could be the least harmful but may still have dangerous side effects.
Latex-based paints are harmless in the long-term, but may cause short-term intestinal issues and vomitting.
Latex based paints are usually ones that are water soluble and only require water for the painting to work. And while water may seem harmless, the latex paints themselves cannot be eaten as they can cause short-term issues to the stomach.
How can paint be harmful to pets?
Toxic paint chemicals can lead to life-threatening diseases in pets!
Pets such as cats, dogs or even birds can consume paints that are toxic, resulting in lead poisoning, vomitting and diarrhoea.
Make sure your pets are always clean. If they ever get in touch with paint, it could come in contact with their skin and stick to their feathers or fur. In turn, they could lick it off during a self-cleaning session and end up ingesting the paint. Even if the paint has no effect on their skin, it could end up causing internal damage this way.
Just as it is for humans, pets could also have excessive lead levels inside their body. To detect these levels and keep them in check, it’s best to get tests done by the vet. Vomitting is one of the signs of paint poisoning (either by lead or not), but it could always be treated using proper medication prescribed by the vet.
PRO-TIP
keep paint supplies out of reach
It's not just the paint but anything with toxic paint chemicals on it, could be harmful to pets - be it cats, dogs or any animal! So it's best not to just keep the paint tubes and containers away, but all the brushes and tools out of reach of pets too. Even more so, keep varnishes and other painting solvents and mediums away too.
Conclusion
So yes, eating or consuming paint in any way could be dangerous! For pets and kids, even non-toxic paints could be harmful as they could lead to choking, allergies and irritation. It doesn’t matter what kind of paint you have - if eaten, all three types (oil-based, water-based and lead-based) are equally dangerous for you, your kids and pets. Whereas with lead and toxic paints, the results could be as dangerous as death in the long run.
Do you want to learn more interesting painting facts? Don’t forget to read this post on whether painting can burn calories or not !
Does Painting Burn Calories? Yes, this is how many!
Do you enjoy painting in your free time? Well, more than just a pleasurable activity, it even burns calories!
By Jimena & Iñigo
The Navarro-Rubios
My husband and I are learning how to draw and paint. We wanted to share this learning process with the world and have fun! That's why we created this blog. We'll have drawing contests every week and you'll decide who won that week! Follow along and learn with us!
Jimena & Iñigo
The Navarro-Rubios
My husband and I are learning how to draw and paint. We wanted to share this learning process with the world and have fun! That's why we created this blog. We'll have drawing contests every week and you'll decide who won that week! Follow along and learn with us!
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