I have been reading the marvelous article on tanxheaven about the T-55 on the workbench .
Something caught my eye: the author claims that the Gunze paints are toxic. Do you think he was talking about the acrylic paints or the Hobby Color line? I'm fairly sure that the acrylic paints are not toxic -at least much less harmful than the enamels.
I'm worried as I'm using these paints. I'm using my airbrush on the patio with a mask on, but for brush painting I'm staying inside - and there are other people around me.
So: what do you think?

The article doesn't say which kind of Gunze the builder used but maybe we should assume that enamels were used.
They are probably toxic, the acrylics are also probably toxic in one way
or another (paint consists of at least: pigment, glue and solvent).
Acrylics also usually contain some kind of preservative to prevent it
from going bad (rotting). All of these components can probably be
considered toxic in some way.

The real issue is HOW toxic it is. Distilled water is also dangerous, if you drink a gallon or so without eating something salty it will KILL you, even reasonably clean (salt free) water can be dangerous/lethal in large doses. The air you breathe on your patio when you are not painting could
be toxic if you live near a large road with dense traffic on it.
The carbon dioxide you exhale can kill you too ;-)

Based on the "normal usage" for a modeller the paints and glues we use are not toxic, before it starts getting anywhere near dangerous the smell is usually too much and we get some fresh air.

If you really want to worry about toxic stuff start worrying about cigarettes/tobacco. If you don't smoke maybe you have a car and have to fill it up with gasoline? Those fumes are toxic and cancerogenous.
Do you like fried meat? That dark brown fried surface on the meat is
cancerogenous, watch out ..... Some spices are toxic if used in too
large doses. Alcohol! I hope that you don't drink any alcohol? Most of the chemicals giving taste to wine/whiskey/cognac/brandy et.c are also toxic in some way or other, not to mention the alcohol itself.
Insecticides on fruit and vegetables??
And so on and so forth et.c.et.c.

The anxiety caused by worrying about all the dangerous things in life is
probably more dangerous for your healt than the things you worry about.


What I'm really trying to say is: Stop worrying and be happy :-)
And if you absolutely have to worry, worry about the really dangerous things.
/ Robin

Perfectly safe!

:-)