# Inhaling pastel dust

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-pastel-dust/570123>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 4, 2011, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-pastel-dust/570123 "2011-02-04T05:42:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-pastel-dust/570123/1 "2011-02-04T05:42:50Z")

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I have heard it is bad to inhale pastel dust. Why? Is the dust like carcinogenic like asbestos and (possibly) talc? What does it do to a person who inhales it?

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-pastel-dust/570123/2 "2011-02-04T06:38:58Z")

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Pastel dust comprises particles of pigment and binder, some of which are small enough to pass deep into the lung, possibly into the alveoli. Many pigments are based on toxic heavy metals, and others are organic chemicals that, while not known to be hazardous, have not been rigorously assessed for toxicity, and are closely related to some that are known carcinogens.

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**Author:** ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-pastel-dust/570123/3 "2011-02-04T06:53:50Z")

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Now I know. This site is great! 😃

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**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inhaling-pastel-dust/570123/4 "2011-02-04T08:38:54Z")

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Not all pastels or all colors are toxic. It varies by manufacturer. For example, I use PanPastels and the red I use is made of iron oxide, not cadmium.

Check this out.  
[http://www.sun-eden.com/tips/tip\_pastel.html](http://www.sun-eden.com/tips/tip_pastel.html)