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I’m moving into a freshly painted apartment and
am curious as to whether it makes any sense to repaint the walls with
nontoxic paint in the hope of covering up the toxic stuff already there
— or is it too late?
Conventional indoor paints do indeed release
potentially toxic chemicals during and shortly after application; though
once paint is dry most of the offending substances, collectively known as
“volatile organic compounds,” or VOCs, tend to stay sealed up.
For this reason, most people will not be affected once the telltale
new-paint smell has faded away. If someone is suffering adverse health effects from
exposure to fresh paint, they should not be taken lightly.
“Off-gassing” VOCs can cause serious respiratory-tract
irritation as well as visual impairment, headaches, dizziness, and memory
loss. Additionally, many VOCs have been shown to cause cancer in animals,
and some are suspected of being carcinogenic to human beings. Health
effects vary greatly, depending on the particular chemicals involved and
the amount of exposure and individual sensitivity of those living with
them. Besides paints, a wide range of other home products — including
building materials, carpets, furniture, cleaning supplies, and bug sprays
— can emit VOCs. For those who suffer from respiratory problems or
other symptoms on moving into a freshly painted residence or remain
sensitive long after a paint job, there are many paints now on the market
that can help decrease the amount of VOCs emitted into the air. There are essentially three general categories of
nontoxic (or low-toxic) paints: zero-VOC, low-VOC, and so-called natural.
Keep in mind, however, that the term “nontoxic” is used in its
broadest sense. Even “zero-VOC” formulations, such as those
made by AFM, YOLO Colorhouse, and Ecos, for example, can contain trace
amounts (as much as 5 grams per liter) of toxic ingredients. Some leading low-VOC paints can be obtained from
manufacturers such as Cloverdale, Vista, and Miller, to name a few.
Industry leaders Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams also offer their own
low-VOC lines. “Natural” paints and finishes, from
manufacturers such as Livos, Aglaia, and BioShield, are made from raw
ingredients such as water, plant oils, clay, and milk protein and therefore
usually contain minimal amounts of VOCs. Consumers can track down such
healthier paints at retailers such as the Environmental Home Center and
Greenhome.com and even at some of the larger home-repair chains. Precautions should be taken during the application of
any paint. Only buy exactly what you need and apply it with adequate
ventilation. Remember to always keep paints out of the reach of children
and pets, and safely dispose of all unused product. If ventilation is not
sufficient, wear a respirator with a filter that will capture and prevent
the inhalation of VOCs.
For more information:
U.S. EPA “Introduction to Indoor Air Quality: Volatile Organic
Compounds,” www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html; Environmental Home Center,
www.environmentalhomecenter.com; Greenhome.com, www.greenhome.com.
Send questions to Earth Talk, care of E/The Environmental Magazine,
P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881 or e-mail earthtalk@emagazine.com.
This article appears in Jan 11-17, 2007.
