Are pastel pigments toxic and dangerous?
Much attention has been given in recent years to the toxicity question of cadmium pigments and other metals. Cadmium pigments have been used in artist palettes for many years. I have spoken to a number of experts and chemists over the years who think the concentration is so small in pastel as not to be of concern. However, this is not the only view. I am not in favor of doing things that would be harmful to my body and think ordinary care would be sufficient to minimize this problem. Wash you hands frequently or use a “barrier cream” to protect your skin. Surgical gloves could be worn if your skin is extra sensitive, although I find them to be difficult to use. Do not “blow off” the excess dust on your paintings as this puts more dust into your lungs. If you have allergy problems you might consider a HEPA filter which removes much dust particles from your studio space.
