Safer Paint

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air. In addition, the poor quality of indoor air creates one of the top five hazards to human health. And paints and finishes are among the leading causes of contaminated indoor air.

In studies of paints and finishes, the compounds used to create these products are shown to release low level toxic emissions into the air during their application, and for years afterward. The source of these toxins is a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which, until recently, were considered essential to the production and performance of the paint.

Because of health concerns and environmental regulations, low-VOC and even no- or zero-VOC paints have begun to take their place on shelves in hardware and home stores. These paints are durable, cost-effective and much less harmful to human and environmental health.

These benefits include reduced toxins being released into the air, benefitting especially the young, the elderly, those with compromised respiratory systems, and people with allergies and chemical sensitivities.

These low-or-zero- VOC paints and stains also are less harmful to groundwater and landfills and contain less ozone-depleting contaminants. And they need only soap and water to keep clean.

What is the difference between low-and Zero-VOC paints? Low-VOC paints, stains and varnishes are water-based rather than petroleum-based. The levels of harmful emissions are lower, and the amount of heavy metals or formaldehyde they contain is also very low or contains only trace amounts. To meet EPA standards, low-VOC stains and varnishes cannot contain more than 300 grams of volatile organic compounds per liter. Most low-VOC paint available in stores usually contains 50 grams per liter less.

Any paint with five grams of volatile organic compounds or less can be labeled Zero-VOC according to the EPA. Adding a color tint to this type of paint usually brings the volatile organic compound level up to ten grams per liter, but this is still considered very, very low.

Because of the concern over toxic compounds, paint manufacturers are going to great lengths to find ingredients that are safe. Ingredients currently finding their way into paints and stains include plant oils and resins, plant oils and resins, plant dyes and essential oils, natural minerals including clay, chalk and talc, natural latex, beeswax, earth and mineral dyes. One paint company, The Real Milk Paint Company, manufacturers a non-toxic paint made with milk protein, lime, and clay and earth pigments. The paint can be found at realmilkpaint.com.  Livos, found at Livos.com, makes organic stains, oils and waxes using all natural ingredients with a linseed oil or citrus oil base.

Another way to maintain better air quality during painting and staining is to leave brushes and rollers alone. Contrary to conventional wisdom, brushes and rollers don’t need to be cleaned after each use. Paint brushes and rollers used for an on-going project can be saved overnight, or sometimes even up to a week without cleaning by wrapping the brush or roller snugly in a plastic bag. You can even use bread or produce bags. The bags need to be squeezed tightly to remove air pockets and must be stored away from the light.

The paint won’t dry because air can’t get to it. Simply unwrap the brush or roller the next day and continue with the job. (This works for water and oil-based paints and stains. It does not work for varnishes or lacquers.)

When it’s time to wash the brushes or rollers, they should be washed in a bucket of water in the sink. Pour the used paint-laden water into a container and bring it to your local hazardous materials waste depot along with your empty paint cans.

To further reduce the impact of indoor air pollutants, circulate fresh air through your house as often as possible, especially after painting. When painting ceilings, be sure to provide cross-ventilation to remove paint fumes. Fumes rise as paint dries, so with ceilings, the fumes dissipate more slowly since there’s no air above the paint. You can also reduce fresh paint odors by placing a small dish of white vinegar in the room.