# Can paints and coatings harm me?

**URL:** <https://reachback.builtintelligence.com/t/can-paints-and-coatings-harm-me/1245>\
**Category:** General Construction\
**Created:** [13 January 2013 08:58 UTC](https://reachback.builtintelligence.com/t/can-paints-and-coatings-harm-me/1245 "2013-01-13T08:58:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HSE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@HSE](https://reachback.builtintelligence.com/u/HSE)\
**Post date:** [13 January 2013 08:58 UTC](https://reachback.builtintelligence.com/t/can-paints-and-coatings-harm-me/1245/1 "2013-01-13T08:58:41Z")

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HSE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@HSE](https://reachback.builtintelligence.com/u/HSE)\
**Post date:** [25 January 2013 10:46 UTC](https://reachback.builtintelligence.com/t/can-paints-and-coatings-harm-me/1245/2 "2013-01-25T10:46:05Z")

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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.
```