Today I am thinking of my safety as I do my artwork more than I ever have. Of those who personally know me, you are already aware that I went through breast cancer this year.  Luckily, it was caught very early on a mammagram, and so the treatment was not that long and was very successful. . . .

Now that I am through it all, I find that I am much more aware of the risks I may take related to cancer. I have trusted the labels on my paints and epoxy to "use in a well ventilated area" and they would basically be safe.  The question becomes more complex when I consider that I am spending many hours and days exposed to these chemicals.  That is probably not what they had in mind when they made up the safety label.  So back to my favorite "Google" to do a little research. 
I found, to my surprise, that there were many online articles about this very subject.  Over and over I saw the suggestion that an exhaust system in your studio was a wise thing to do.  I found very expensive commercial systems costing thousands of dollars, and then almost free systems using spare parts, cardboard, and duct tape.  Somewhere in there was a happy middle point.  Eventually I decided to follow plans to build your own simple system using a bathroom ceiling fan.  I have to thank the staff at Home Depot that thought my project was interesting and helped me find everything I needed and added a few good suggestions to boot.  I am happy to say my project turned out to be simple enough for me to do myself and is already in use in my studio.  I plan to be painting my coins for many years, and am happy to be safe rather than sorry!
Ann