In addition, many people have high individual susceptibility to chemicals for heredity reasons or physical or emotional stress. The exposure by pregnant women to even small amounts of many materials can damage a fetus. The body can detoxify and eliminate many materials if it has sufficient rest between exposures in which to recover. Most artists have home studios, often exposing themselves as well as other family members twenty-four hours a day, instead of just while working. In addition to skin damage, this enables toxic chemicals to enter the body.
Many solvents can penetrate the skin directly.
Solvent vapors, aerosol sprays, gases, dusts, and metal fumes can damage the respiratory system or be absorbed from the lungs into the bloodstream and affect other parts of the body. Respiratory defenses are not particularly effective against solvent vapors, irritation gases, and other non-dust chemicals. Smoking while working is particularly hazardous. The breathing in of solids such as airbrush paint particles or pigment dusts. Accidents while working, such as a pneumatic paint tool getting out of control, may result in aspiration.