Stick with Safe Paint
Before you pick up that brush, investigate the benefits of less toxic, low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints: lower health risks and less air pollution.
October/November 2003
By Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk
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Andersen-Ross/Brand X Pictures/Picture Quest
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Do It Yourself
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By Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk
Before you pick up that brush, choose the right paints for lower health risks and less air pollution.
I have to admit that I like the smell of fresh paint. Having lived in a collec tion of motley old apartments and homes, I loved the way a couple of gallons covered over the scuffs and stains left by the last tenants and created a "new" living space. To me, the aroma of freshly painted walls signified a clean start. But as it turns out, what my nose didn't know could have been hurting me.
That "new-paint smell" is caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a class of chemicals that evaporate readily at room temperature. These chemicals are found in some pigments and also are added to alkyd oil and (to a lesser extent) latex paints to provide certain desirable working qualities, like spreadability, or to improve durability. Low-level exposure to these chemicals may cause temporary health problems, such as headaches, dizziness or nausea. Higher exposure levels, such as with auto spray booth operators, and longer exposure times can cause permanent damage to the kidneys, liver, and nervous or respiratory systems.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air. Outgassing from VOCs contributes greatly to indoor air pollution. Outside, VOC emissions react with other hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and sunlight to create smog.
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