Spray cans painting = pollution ?

Reflections on Spray Painting and Its Consequences on Air Quality

Spray painting, mostly used by street artists, releases tons of particles into the air, as if the air itself needed to be fragranced.

These cans are favored for their permanent application on walls and are also the preferred tools of vandals, alongside Posca-type markers.

Spray cans contain:

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

• Solvents (e.g., Toluene, Xylene, Acetone)

• Aerosol Propellants (e.g., Butane, Propane, Isobutane)

• Heavy Metals (e.g., Lead, Cadmium, Chromium)

And they contribute to:

• Air Pollution

• Water and Soil Contamination

• Non-Biodegradable Waste

Craftsmen who spend hours in front of a wall must wear an efficient filter-equipped mask, or their lungs will quickly suffer serious health consequences.

Before even beginning their work, artists must shake and test their spray cans multiple times in what we call "clean air"—unknowingly releasing even more harmful particles into the environment for free.

This is why I choose to avoid spray paint cans in my artwork and mostly use paintbrushes.

But beautiful artworks are made in the world, don't you think it is possible to have them in a less polluting way?