| |
Paint is a significant source of chemicals
that continue to effect air quality long after application. A John
Hopkins University study found that more than 300 toxic chemicals and
150 carcinogens may be present in paint12. They include
acetone, ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, lead, pentachlorophenol and
xylene. A study has found the prevalence of asthma to be related to
emissions from newly painted indoor surfaces13. Fresh paint
will continue to outgas chemicals for as long as one year.
Paint also may contain ingredients know to permanently lower sperm
counts. Ethylene glycol, a common ingredient in paints, including many
low-VOC paints, is one of these. You don’t need to breathe paint fumes
to be effected. The chemicals in paint are absorbed through skin on
contact.
Safer Solutions
Read the label. Typically it says
“Known to the State of California to cause cancer.” Most people don’t
take this seriously. As one comedian said, “You mean if I’m not in
California, it doesn’t hurt me?”
Consider selecting zero-VOC, low-VOC water-based or natural paints.
These are available at most hardware and paint stores now. Ask the store
for an MSDS. It won’t list all the ingredients but it’s a starting
point. Call the paint manufacture and ask for full disclosure of all the
ingredients. Don’t settle for “it’s a trade secret”. Modern analytical
tests have allowed everyone to find out what’s in their competitors
paint. There are no trade secrets. The best paint companies will tell
you everything that’s in their paint.
|
Selecting
a Paint |
|
*Low
& Zero VOC
Trade
Brands |
Low &
Zero VOC
Alternative Brands |
Natural Paints2 |
Milk
Paint |
|
Benjamin
Moore
Pristine Eco Spec
|
Chem
Safe
(866)-287-6892
ecoclean-az.com |
Bio
Shield
(800)
621-2591
BioShieldPaint.com |
Old-Fashioned Milk Paint Company
(978)
448-6336
Milkpaint.com |
|
Sherwin
Williams
Health Spec |
AFM Safe
Coat1
(619)
239-0321
|
AGLAIA
(800)322-6843
aglaiapaint.com |
BioShield
(800)
621-2591
BioShieldPaint.com |
|
Kelly-More
Enviro-Cote |
|
Auro
Natural Paints
(888)
302-9352
Aurousa.com |
Real
Milk Paint
(800)
339-9746
RealMilkPaint.com |
|
Frazee
Envirokote |
|
|
|
|
Glidden
Lifemaster 2000 |
|
|
|
|
* Most
major brands now carry a Low or Zero-VOC paint. Ask at your
local paint store. While these are better than traditional
blends, some of these have Ethylene glycol.
1
A popular line with those who are chemically sensitive.
2
These brands make Zero and low VOC paints. They also have
natural paints that contain turpenes and citrus oils that
smell and may cause reactions in some sensitive people. They
disclose all ingredients.
A
non-profit organization awards a Green-Seal to paints
meeting minimum requirements.
All
of the paints listed meet these requirements.
|
It can be frustrating to research healthy paints. You probably won’t get
full disclose of all the ingredients from the manufacturer. There can be
formaldehyde, acetone and other ingredients in paint which aren’t on the
label. Acetone, for example, isn’t considered a VOC. So a can of paint
could say zero-VOC and contain acetone. If you have to settle for
what’s available at the local paint store, chose the lowest VOC product.
Low-odor and low-VOC is not the same thing. Paint can be low odor and
still have high chemical content. Still, it’s best to trust your nose
after considering the ingredients that are listed.
If you really want to be healthy and creative try milk paint or a
natural paint. You buy the pigment powders separately and mix them to
create beautiful and unique colors. Milk paint is made from the casein
protein of cows and does not contain petrol-chemicals. For those of you
who are eco-conscious as well, Auro and BioShield literally grow some of
the oils in their products organically. Keep in mind that not all
natural paints are low odor. Some contain oils that have an odor that
bothers some people. Milk paint is low odor.
What ever paint you decide to use, paint when the building is vacated
and when you won’t be home while it’s drying. Open the windows during
and after painting.
|
|
