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Paint

The Backstory

Environmental Issues

The VOCs emitted by solvents found in most paints contribute to the formation of ground level ozone and indoor air pollution. A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed that indoor VOC levels were 1,000 times more than outdoor levels after painting, as the paint was drying. Another study showed that VOCs were released at a higher rate from paint that was being applied and drying than from any other product used indoors.

In sunlight, some organic solvents used in paint can react with nitrous oxides in the atmosphere to form smog. California 's South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) developed legislation limiting the amount of solvents used in paint because these VOCs are significant contributors to smog formation.

While latex paint produce less VOC's than oil-based paints, the volume of their use is extremely large--totaling 87 percent of all indoor paint sold in the United States--and emissions from latex paints are a major source or indoor air pollution.

Personal Health Issues

Volatile Organic Compounds

Nothing brightens up a space like a fresh coat of paint. All too often, however, the "clean" smell of new paint is actually the vapors released from the toxic ingredients used as solvents in conventional paints. Known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), these include benzene, formaldehyde, kerosene, ammonia, toluene and xylene, which are known carcinogens and neurotoxins. The more VOCs a paint contains, the stronger the odor. Exposure to VOCs can worsen asthma symptoms and cause nose, skin and eye irritation; headaches, nausea, convulsions and dizziness; respiratory problems; nerve damage; and, in some cases, liver and kidney disease.

While VOCs vary greatly in their safety, ranging from those that are highly toxic to those with no known health effects, most VOCs found in paints unfortunately fall into the former category.

Paint strippers, used to remove old paint, are also problematic because they contain methylene chloride, a probable human carcinogen. Some paint strippers are made with caustic soda, which can cause severe burns Use mineral washing soda instead, which you can find in the laundry section of your supermarket. Wearing gloves, make a very thick paste of washing soda and water and spread with a putty knife on the surface to be stripped. Let it set for several hours or overnight, keeping it as moist as possible by misting frequently with water. Rinse and peel off the paint.

Lead Paint

Lead, a highly toxic metal once used in paint, is the number one environmental health hazard to children in the United States. Children who suffer from lead poisoning can experience learning disabilities, memory loss, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, aggression and other behavior problems. When pregnant women are exposed to lead, their developing fetus is also subject to exposure because lead crosses the placenta.