Hazardous paint used by Vic firies banned

A potentially cancer-causing paint posing an "unacceptable" risk to Victorian firefighters has been banned and a review is underway to assess the possible health effects.

The fluorescent spray paint, called Dy-Mark, is used by firefighters to mark hazardous trees due to be cut down.

The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning issued a recall on Wednesday, warning the aerosol paint contained two dangerous chemicals - Methylene chloride and Tetrafluoroethane.

Methylene chloride is listed by Safe Work Australia as a category 3 carcinogen.

The department is now reviewing the likely health risk to staff and said the risk was "high and that the exposure potential was unacceptable".