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Spray painting releases volatile compounds that linger in the air. Even in a well-ventilated space, these compounds may be present and it's quite hard to tell if you're inhaling them or not. Considering that the toxins released when spray painting are harmful to us humans and other living creatures, it's understandable why protective equipment is important. But is it important at all times, no matter what? You should always wear a mask when spray painting, both inside and outside. Spray painting releases volatile organic compounds which are harmful to humans and pets, and the mask will prevent you from inhaling them. The volatile organic compounds found in paint include acetone, xylene, formaldehyde, benze, and toluene. These compounds can cause dizziness, nausea, irritation of the skin, nose, throat, eyes, headaches, and for some smaller pets it can even be lethal. That's what's recommended by both paint manufacturers and health professionals too. Don't doubt the effects of inhaling paint. Back in the day I decided to spray paint a hockey stick, I decided that the process would be so quick that I wouldn't even need a mask. It wouldn't take me much more than 5 minutes to spray paint the entire stick, I thought. I opened up the doors and windows of the garage prior to spraying, I didn't set up the extraction fans and I started painting. Everything was fine the same day. The next morning I woke up feeling like crap. I was coughing all the time and my throat was hurting from it. My chest was feeling tighter and I experienced nausea. I definitely learned a lesson. Should You Wear a Mask When Spray Painting? Protective equipment such as a mask and gloves are vital when spray painting. It doesn't matter if you're painting indoors or outdoors. You should still wear proper gear to protect yourself from the possible risks. There's no excuse to not doing it. They're even very affordable! If possible, you should always apply spray paint outside, in a well-ventilated area, such as your backyard or on the driveway. It's much safer to do it outside because there's less risk of fumes lingering in the air around you. Instead, they will be carried away by the wind quite quickly. Spray painting outside without a mask shouldn't be too dangerous if only done for a few minutes, but longer periods can still make you experience some horrible side-effects. That's why I still recommend getting a mask for your outdoor spray painting sessions. Spend a minute or two reading the warning label on your spray can. You can find some useful information regarding the paint there. The level of volatile organic compounds, for instance. Some paints have lower levels of VOC, those paints are a safer alternative when spray painting indoors. Additional information found on the label can include; How the cans should stored.What protective equipment the manufacturer recommends.Information regarding the toxins.First-aid, fire-fighting, and accidental release measures. I've got a can of Rustoleum spray paint next to me as I'm writing this. The warning label says; "Suspected of causing cancer. May cause drowsiness or dizziness. May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure". As you may imagine, they're recommending protective equipment when using their spray paint. Talking about prolonged or repeated exposure to the released fumes is also important. The short-term effects aren't fun, but the long-term effects will most likely impact your life negatively in many ways, if not taken seriously. If you are under heavy exposure to these volatile compounds frequently, some of the things you may experience later in life include; Damage to kidneyDamage to liverDamage to nervous systemRespiratory problemsCancerPermanent allergy You don't even have to combine the long-term and short-term risks to justify the purchase of an adequate mask. Feeling nausea or headache is uncomfortable enough and I bet anyone who can, will try to avoid it. You can find high-quality face masks for a small price these days, they're available both online and in stores. Get one to protect yourself. Our lungs weren't made to filter out aerosols, epoxy fumes, organic solvents, etc. You want to preserve as much of your lung capacity as possible for when you're older, you're going to need it. Do Dust Masks Work For Spray Painting? While spray painting isn't my career, I still reach out to the local workshops and unions to discuss the subject whenever I feel there's something worth questioning. Where I live, there are local painter unions that regulate the working conditions of painters to ensure that they have the appropriate equipment to avoid life-threatening ailments down the road. My local union states that dust masks are fine when you're using a paint roller but not good enough for spray painting. More basic masks, such as the dust mask, will not be able to filter out the vapors completely, causing you to inhale them even with a mask on. Dust masks are often used to keep out dust particles, but some of the hazardous compounds can still be inhaled through the dust mask's filter. If you're considering a medical mask, you should reconsider. Medical masks don't provide much protection from the fumes at all. What Kind of Mask Do I Need For Spray Painting? Since both dust masks and medicals masks are out of the equation, we'll have to look for a better alternative, something that can filter out the vapors effectively. When it comes to spray painting, the best choice to keep hazardous chemicals out is going to be a respirator mask. They're equipped with small boxes containing filters, these filters will make sure you don't inhale potentially dangerous fumes while spray painting. Additionally, respirator masks are made to fit firmly on your face to prevent air from entering any other way than through the filter. It's important that your mask fits well in order for it to be effective. If you're wearing a mask and still smell the paint, that's an indication that your mask may not be put on tight enough - as the paint particles obviously have made their way to your nose. Fasten the mask so that it sits tightly on your face. Respirator masks look more advanced than medical masks, but they're not really that expensive. You can find good masks for as little as 20$ but, as it often is, the more you pay, the better the product may be. Most models come with interchangeable filters, allowing you to simply exchange the filter once it has been used. This further improves the protection that the mask provides while also keeping the cost to a minimum. One of the masks I use doesn't cost more than 20$, it's a disposable face mask and I've got to say, I'm very pleased with how well the mask has worked for such a small price. It's not my primary choice when I'm spray painting at home but it's the one I bring with me whenever I spray paint in the family cottage. You can check it out on Amazon here. If you're looking for a more wholesome alternative and don't mind spending money, then you're probably going to look for something along the lines of this (Here's a link to it on Amazon). That's my primary mask and it's been a beast. There's not much I don't like about it. I usually get headaches from simply wearing a mask for too long (I've got a big head) but that's not the case with this one. It fits comfortably, even after an hour of constant use. Is Spray Painting Without a Mask Dangerous? Spray painting without a mask can be dangerous both inside and outside. Doing so outside, in a more well-ventilated area may be more forgiving than doing it in a narrow little space with restricted air-flow but it's still risky and may cause nausea, respiratory problems, allergies, irritation and more. For small projects that take about a minute or two to spray outdoors, you're most likely going to be fine but you should still wear a mask. When spray painting inside, there's no question about it. Even with extraction fans, open windows, and doors you're still going to be exposed to the lingering vapors. Inhaling them for even a short period of time can cause symptoms that will negatively impact the rest of your day, and even the next one. Doing so repeatedly may impact the rest of your life. There's not much to say about it. It's not worth it at all. Your lungs will take damage from the strong chemicals in the paint and will, over time, stop working as well as they would have if you had taken care of them. Your lung capacity will decrease substantially as a byproduct of frequently inhaling paint fumes. Get a mask. How Long Does It Take For Spray Paint Fumes To Go Away? How long the fumes that spawned initially stay depends on the location you sprayed at, the gear used, the air circulation, and the paint used. In a well-ventilated room where you let the room air out after you've finished painting, it should only take a couple of days before the fumes have dissipated completely. The smell coming from the dried paint may stay for much longer though, sometimes up to weeks. It's hard to tell because there are so many things factoring in. The most generalized answer I can give is that the fumes should have disappeared from an aired-out room after 2-3 days. If they're not treated properly, however, the fumes can linger for much longer than that and cause health issues to anyone living under the same roof as the fumes. Spending enough time with the smell may neutralize it for you, which can cause you to forget it is there. Sometimes, it's good to go for a walk or bring someone who hasn't been in your house for a few days just to see if the smell of paint still lingers in the air. The chemicals can still be dangerous, even if you don't feel the smell. According to propaintcorner.com, there are several ways of reducing the smell and fumes to minimize your exposure to them. Here's what they state in one of their articles; Use Low-VOC Spray PaintVentilate the Area WellPlace Activated Charcoal in the RoomPlace Lemon Water Around the RoomPlace Baking Soda Around the RoomPlace Coffee Grounds in the Corner of the Room Can Spray Paint Fumes Kill You? Spray paint fumes can be lethal to humans under extreme circumstances, be it a sudden impact or a life-long battle with chronic disease. Without the proper safety measures and ventilation, the dangers combined with spray painting increase drastically. Read all of the warning labels prior to painting to ensure that you've done all in your power to minimize the risk of harming yourself or others. Spray painting should be fun and effective. It shouldn't leave you up at night because you're unsure if you're at risk or not. Doing it the right way will keep those anxious thoughts at bay. What Should You Do If You Inhale Spray Paint Fumes? If it's a one-time occurrence, and if the amount was rather small, you may feel some mild symptoms at the most. Pay attention to your well-being, if you feel that the symptoms are getting stronger, seek medical help. But as I said, my best bet is that you may feel nausea, a headache, or irritation of eyes, skin, nose or throat. Again, if it's a one-off event, chances are slim of doing any long-lasting damage. It also depends on the what type of paint you've used. Acrylics, for instance, are easily dissolved by the human body as they're water-based.