Art can be made out of anything - but many materials contain harmful substances that can damage your health if stored, handled, or worked with unsafely.

Children too young to read or follow precautions are especially vulnerable. And art materials tested for adults may not be healthy for growing children.

Pregnant women are at special risk, too. Pregnancy may be affected by low levels of exposure to toxics. And developing fetuses are particularly sensitive.

Adults may have medical conditions which make them more vulnerable to toxic exposures. Cognitive disabilities may also prevent adults from taking needed precautions.

Because many toxins don't show immediate symptoms but boost the risk of cancer or cause other damage over time, it's important to learn about art hazards early on and make safety part of your lifelong technique.

It's never to early or too late to start making art safely.