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So far the only artists who responded have had no concerns with celiac, but confirmed my caveat.... to beware of the dust particles of working with pastels...not because of celiac, but because it's not good to inhale it.  Some wear masks and/or gloves (one wears latex with silk liners). One suggested a good HEPA air filter.

My class was "plein air"...outdoors....so it's the fall mold and ragweed that got me, not the pastels. I haven't worked indoors with pastels at this point. Seeing how much dust they kick up, it is a concern. Best done in a well-ventilated, filtered studio and not a kitchen or closed up basement!!! I'm thinking of keeping a hand-held vacuum nearby if I decide to move indoors when the weather turns cold. (Empty it with caution, outdoors...not into the wind!)

Since I have asthma, evidently the dust is going to be more of a concern than celiac.

For those of you with children doing art work in school or extra-curricular classes....the concensus is to remind your kids to wash their hands, although I'm not sure how that will be carried out during the day. (Kids are kids.).....Just an FYI: As a retired teacher, I'd advise that you write to the art teacher to be sure she/he knows of the child's celiac. Parents tend to let the homeroom teacher and/or nurse know, but not the specialists (music, art, gym). It's not a safe bet that schools share information with everyone. Unless a child has a special ed. plan (I.E.P.), chances are, the art teacher isn't going to read the child's personal file and may not know.

Thank you. 

Lin




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