What to Know About Volatile Organic Compounds

Paint and food have something in common: additives. These additive which were seen as necessary in the past decades are now being restricted and controlled. In both some manufacturers are leaning away from ingredients which are not good for us. Some paint additives make it easier for the DIY'er to apply paint to the walls. These same additives, or co-solvents are called volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Volatile organic compounds

When you paint your walls, you may be thrilled with the color, you may not even mind the "new paint smell." But watch out, because that sea-like shade of blue or latte-colored tan is releasing chemicals, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Removing paint also releases these pollutants. These chemicals pollute our homes.

Health effects of VOCs

VOCs, like the refined sugars and flours in our food, have adverse effects on our health. During use, the compounds can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, allergic reaction, and can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Exposure to these compounds has also been linked to cancer.

Why VOCs?

Until recently, more natural paints with fewer and or no VOCs simply were not versatile enough for the home. Early natural paints were not considered durable. The other downside to earlier, more natural paints was a lack of color choices, the number one thing we all look for when choosing a paint. More recently, however, there have been many zero-VOC and low-VOC paint options for consumers looking to live a greener lifestyle without sacrificing the design and feel of their home.

Where VOCs hide

In addition to dry cleaning chemicals, cleansers, moth repellents, and air fresheners, VOCs can be found in paints and paint strippers. The paint used on a home's interior walls, window trim, and doors can emit low level toxic emissions years after the application according to the EPA.

Less is better

We should all try to minimize our family's exposure to these VOCs found in paint and paint products. Look for zero-VOC paints.

* Methylene chloride - Read the labels on aerosol spray paints and paint strippers and look for methylene chloride, a known carcinogen. When using a paint product containing methylene chloride, buy the minimum you need, use it outdoors only and don't store the leftovers. Methylene chloride converts to carbon monoxide in the body according to the EPA.

* Benzene - This chemical can be found in paint supplies and is also a known human carcinogen.

Go greener with these tips

Some paints are more eco-friendly than others. Just like you can buy full fat milk, one or two percent, or non-fat milk, you can also buy home interior paints with varying levels of VOCs.
* Low-VOC paints - typically made with a water base rather than an oil solvent. Low-VOC paints contain 50 g/L to 250 g/L of VOCs.
* No-VOC paints may contain less than five g/L of VOC.

* Zero-VOC - for truly VOC-free paint, look for Zero-VOC paint, particularly the brands where the paint remains Zero-VOC after tinting.

Sources:

American Coatings Association, "An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)," Environmental Protection Agency
"Technological Development," American Coatings Association