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First of all, let me say I could be wrong! But the following is my understanding:
Although you are avoiding fumes from solvents from painting with pastels, you are still being exposed to the cadnium, etc. Pastels use the same pigments (generally) as oil paints. In oil paints, the pigments are suspended in a medium and thus trapped, while the pigments in pastels are free to travel about and not only land on your skin but also can be inhaled. So in that sense, it is possible that pastels can be more harmful to your health.
I believe that pastels are, technically, more archival than oil paints. I think the difference comes in where the support is concerned. Paper will break down before canvas, etc. But the pastel itself should supposedly never break down as it is pure pigment and has no vehicle, resins, oils, etc to age, yellow, decompose over time. Of course temperature and humidity and other conditions come into play but this is true to a certain extent with oils as well.
Can anyone confirm or deny the above? I'd be interested to know.
Also, I am not saying this does or does not affect the relative prices of oils and pastels.
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