Paints and coatings can contain a number of different substances. Some of these can harm you by causing a number of short and long-term health problems:
Skin, eye and mucous membrane irritation
Headaches, dizziness and sickness
Lung problems
Effects on the nervous system, blood, liver and kidneys
Cancer
If not properly controlled, solvents within coatings can also create a serious immediate risk to you because they give off vapours. At high amounts, these vapours can cause headaches, drowsiness and even unconsciousness. Breathing this mix of toxic air can make you very ill very quickly. In some conditions, people can die.