Chemical risk for operators in the arts field Chemical Risk Assessment and Health Monitoring: features and peculiarity of a little investigated and considered field (figurative arts) characterized by varying exposition

In most workplaces where operators can be exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals or materials, chemical risk is or should be a well known topic. However, the matter is often neglected or ignored in work and indoor environments where activities are not on a regular basis connected to the exposition to potentially hazardous chemicals. These activities include creation, restoration and consolidation concerning the artistic field and laboratory activities in schools and professional institutes. When the artistic field is combined with school environment, the scenario can be worse, as chemical risk is particularly underestimated even because there are not specific education courses on health and security. In artistic schools and academies, students and teachers can daily use several products and materials, that may be hazardous to health, unconsciously and carelessly. Solvents, diluents and paints contain several volatile organic compounds potentially dangerous; gypsum and metal leaves can produce inhalable and respirable-size airborne particulate matter; pigments, containing heavy metal, and acids can be hazardous when used without suitable gloves and masks. In order to gain information regarding chemical risk in artistic academies, a chemical risk assessment was realized in one of the most famous art schools in Italy, the “Accademia di Belle Arti” in Rome. After several surveys, according to the potentially dangerous chemicals, materials and artistic techniques employed, we selected painting, sculpture and engraving laboratories for specific chemical monitoring. It has to be mentioned that the lacking cooperation by personnel and the shortage of material safety data sheets complicated our experimental work. Moreover, during our sampling and monitoring activities, we observed that the use of protection and prevention methods by students and teachers was often improper. Monitoring activities concerned active and passive sampling of volatile organic compounds in the laboratories of painting and engraving, active sampling of airborne particulate matter originated from gypsum in the laboratory of sculpture, active sampling of airborne particulate matter derived from metal leaves in the laboratory of engraving, and consequent specific analyses. All the obtained values resulted below the considered TLV-TWA. In addition, the detection of CO2 was realized in each laboratory, as indicator of poor air quality; settled dust was analysed, in order to achieve more information about recent activities. In light of results obtained, the Occupational Health Physician opportunely modified the Health Monitoring Program.