Traditional household paints contain a vast number of chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are a large group of carbon-based chemicals that are volatile, meaning that they like to exist as a gas. The type and amount of VOCs in household paint varies with the type and brand of paint, but traditional household paints generally contain many VOCs, including benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene. In fact some of these VOCs have been linked to including eye, nose and throat irritation, nauseau, headaches, and even cancer.
The nature of VOCs volatility means they will “off-gas” from the walls into the air as the paint is applied or as it dries. This alone can cause people living or spending time in freshly painted homes to have exposures to VOCs that are much greater than normal – as much as 1000 times greater. These potentially large exposures (based on the fact that the paint is usually applied to a large area) and resulting smells, headaches, and other potential health effects should be cause enough to encourage everyone to look for lower VOC or chemical-free paints.
There are several types of lower VOC or no VOC paints, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Of the traditional household paints, latex or water-based paints -- especially the latex paints that are largely free of formaldehyde and other chemicals to prevent mildew and mold (“low biocide”) -- have lower amounts of VOCs as compared to oil-based paints. Similarly, flat finish paints tend to contain fewer VOCs than glossy finish paints, while white or pale paints have less VOCs than brightly colored or dark paints.
Although lower in VOC content, all paints (even those labeled as “no VOC ") generally release some VOCs into the air, with the amount differing by brand. These low and no VOC paints work well, with studies showing that they work as well as or better than a conventional latex paint. However, care should be taken in selecting a "low-VOC" paint, as some may still emit relatively high amounts of certain VOCs and some may perform poorly.
Other paints are entirely free of man-made chemicals and thus are the least polluting and harmful options. “Natural” paints are composed of natural materials, such as linseed, citrus, and soy oils, pine- and balsam-derived turpenes, minerals, plant pigments, lime, and chalk. Although they are made from natural ingredients, “natural” paints may still emit significant amounts of VOCs from ingredients like turpenes or citrus oil, which can also cause eye or lung irritation in some people. “Milk-based” paints, on the other hand, emit no natural or man-made VOCs, but have limited usage (for example, not in kitchens, bathrooms, or other damp areas), take a long time to dry, and require frequent repainting.
Resources (for all environmentally responsible products and services)
http://www.greenhome.com
http://www.greenseal.org
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