FLC OF AN ATR72 DECLARED AN EMER AND RETURNED TO LAND AFTER SMELLING PAINT ODOR IN THE FORWARD BAGGAGE AREA.

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AFTER DEPARTING RWY 17 AT SANTO DOMINGO; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; WE BEGAN OUR CLB TO AN INITIAL ALT OF 3000 FT. AT 3000 FT WE WERE THEN CLRED TO CLB TO 13000 FT. LEAVING 3500 FT THE FO AND I BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONG PAINT LIKE ODOR. THE ODOR BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SO I ASKED THE FO TO MAKE A QUICK INSPECTION OF THE FORWARD CARGO AREA. HE SAID THERE WAS A WHITE LIQUID DRIPPING OUT OF A PIECE OF BAGGAGE. BY NOW THE ODOR WAS SO STRONG MY EYES BEGAN TO BURN. I INSTRUCTED THE FO TO DON HIS OXYGEN MASK AND SMOKE GOGGLES. WE THEN COMPLETED THE EMER CHKLISTS AND CALLED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO CHK THE CONDITION OF THE CABIN. THE FORWARD ATTENDANT SAID SHE WAS SMELLING THE ODOR. I TOLD FLT ATTENDANT #1 THAT WE WOULD BE RETURNING TO SANTO DOMINGO. THE FO THEN CONTACTED DEP AND TOLD THEM WE WERE RETURNING TO SDQ BECAUSE OF FUMES IN THE COCKPIT/CABIN. THEY CLRED US TO TURN TOWARDS A L DOWNWIND APCH AND DSND FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 17. I THEN DECLARED AN EMER AND ASKED FOR FIRE/RESCUE TO STANDBY. WE THEN LANDED AND TAXIED TO OUR INSTRUCTED PARKING SPOT WHERE WE WERE MET BY FIRE/RESCUE AND ARPT PERSONNEL. ALL PAX DEPLANED OUT THE CABIN DOOR. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO ACFT RESULTED. THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR WAS FROM A CAN OF PAINT OR GLUE CONCEALED IN A CARRY-ON BAG. THE CAN BROKE OPEN ON TKOF AND SPILLED INTO THE CARGO AREA AND FLOWED INTO THE CABIN.