“The Silver Lining” in house painting: paints that don’t damage you or the environment

Have you noticed that prolonged exposure to a freshly painted room doesn’t give you a headache like it used to 10 or 15 years ago? It’s not your imagination or random luck: it’s the reduction of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in paints by almost 50%. Before I launch into a definition of the term for those not familiar with it, I just want to point out that I purposely titled this blog post The Silver Lining because I really want to convey the positive achievements that have been made with standards surrounding VOCs. And let’s be honest: it sounds much better than Everything You Wanted to Know About VOCs…But Were Afraid to Ask.

VOCs are organic compounds containing one or more carbon atoms that have high vapor pressure and evaporate readily into the atmosphere. Okay, that’s the Poindexter definition. In layman’s terms, VOCs are gases that are emitted from certain solids or liquids and include a variety of chemicals that may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. If this sounds a little gloomy, please bear with me. I promise there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not a train.

VOC emissions can result from natural sources, like vegetation, forest fires and animals (darn those flatulent cows) and they can result from man-made sources, like exhaust fumes, pollution, office equipment (copiers, correction fluid, glues) dry-cleaned clothing, and yes, even paints.

The short-term adverse health effects that result from exposure to VOCs include eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and nausea. The long-term effects are much more serious: loss of coordination, damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system.

Repeat after me: silver lining. Yes, before you lacquer your hair with product, print off a map to your nearest dry cleaner then run screaming into the street when you consider the amount of VOCs you’ve just exposed yourself to, consider this: in June 2000 the Canadian government adopted the “Canada Wide Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone.”  These standards outlined a number of actions to achieve reductions of several air pollutants. The Ministers of Environment and Health are also currently working on measures to be implemented by 2010 that will reduce emissions of VOCs from consumer and commercial products.

Are you already feeling better about picking up your dry cleaning with crunchy hair? Well, there’s even more good news, and this pertains to paints, which is obviously near and dear to my heart. In the early 1990’s it was decided that the best way to reduce VOC emissions in paints was to reformulate them. The Canadian government created a task force to reduce VOC emissions in paints by 20% and this was achieved by 1994 and acknowledged by the Canadian Paint and Coatings Association. Seeing that they were on a roll, the task force kept at it and by 2002 a further 24% reduction of VOCs in paints had been achieved. Not too shabby. That’s definitely a silver lining if you ask me.

Despite the reduction of VOCs in household products and paints, you should still take precautions: be sure to increase ventilation in an indoor space when using products containing VOCs. Throw away unused or little-used containers safely, and buy products in quantities that you’ll use soon so you don’t expose yourself to VOCs that are emitted slowly.