The paints used with airbrushing can contain carcinogens and harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat; cause headaches, clumsiness, and nausea, damage your liver, kidneys, and central nervous system; and may cause cancer, meaning that it’s essential to have proper ventilation when working with any products that emit them. Airbrushing itself atomizes the paint, resulting in tiny paint particles that can be harmful if inhaled. For these reasons, it’s always best to airbrush outside if at all possible. If you can’t airbrush outside, you want to make sure that your indoor area is well-ventilated. Open windows and doors, and use a fan to disperse the paint fumes. You can also use a spray booth (I recommend this one), which is specially designed to contain the paint mess made from airbrushing. Many spray booths also come equipped with built-in ventilation.