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Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air
according to the EPA, is considered to be one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes are among the leading causes.
Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variey of VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint.
VOC's are the solvents in paint which evaporate easily at room temperature “the smelly odor, bad for people and the environment. VOCs are thought to be contributors to the depletion of the ozone layer, as well as contributors to poor indoor air quality.
chemicals are utilized for a good performing paint and include: petrochemicals, solvents, mercury, formaldehyde, and benzene. Lead, cadmium and chromium can often be found in pigments. Not to mention that distinctive smell of paint is in fact dibutyl and diethyl phthalate - two very volatile compounds!
New environmental regulations, and consumer demand, have led to the development of low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes. Most paint manufacturers now produce one or more non-VOC variety of paint. These new paints are durable, cost-effective and less harmful to human and environmental health.
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Large paint companies such as Benjamin Moore, Glidden, Kelly Moore, and Sherwin Williams are taking notice of the need for environmentally friendly paints, and have come out with zero-VOC, low-VOC or odor free paints. But beware - according to Environmental Building News, (February 1999), "it is virtually impossible for a paint to eliminate VOC emissions entirely. These large paint companies still utilize colorants with some solvents, so tinting the paint introduces a small amount of solvent."
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Consumers can help speed the development and lower the cost of non-toxic paints by choosing products which contain fewer hazardous ingredients. Choosing to use non toxic, environmentally safe paints and stains can also greatly reduce the amount of toxins in the air, water and earth.
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