Non-toxic and natural paints to "spruce up" your home

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency rates paint among its top five environmental hazards.

Indoor air studies have found that the level of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, present while paint is drying can be in upwards of a 1,000 times higher than levels outdoors.

These VOCs, which include formaldehyde, have been linked with respiratory condition; skin and eye irritation; headaches; nausea; muscle weakness; and more serious ailments like liver disease and lung cancer.

While this "off gassing" of chemicals is most noticeable immediately after painting, there are also increasing concerns about its long-term health effects in our homes, offices and public institutions, such as hospitals and schools.

While it is virtually impossible to eliminate all toxins and VOCs from paint and other finishing products, there are safer alternatives. A growing array of low- and zero-VOC paint and finishing products are allowing people to spruce things up without driving them from the room.

FRIENDLIER PALETTE

Alternatives to conventional paint generally fall into one of four categories: low-VOC; zero-VOC; natural; and recycled.

Low-VOC: To qualify for low-VOC status, paints and stains must not contain VOCs in excess of 200 grams per litre, a level easier achieved with latex paints from than oil-based paints.

Because low-VOC paints may still emit an odour until they dry, particularly sensitive individuals may wish to consider zero-VOC or natural paints.

Additionally, it is important to note that VOC levels vary considerably among low-VOC paints, because pigments add some VOCs, as well as toxins, to the base paint. (The deeper the hue, the more pigment needed!)

Zero-VOC: Considered the most appropriate for people with chemical sensitivities, children and those with compromised immune systems, zero-VOC paints are not allowed to contain more than five grams of VOCs per litre.

Limited to latex paints, some manufacturers may claim ''Zero-VOC'' status for their base paints, but may still use colourants, biocides and fungicides that contain additional VOCs.

Like low-VOCs, adding pigment will generally brings the VOC level up.

Natural: Made primarily from renewable or abundantly occurring natural materials such as citrus oil, lime, clay, linseed oil, and even powdered casein (milk protein), natural paints are considered the healthiest and most environmentally sound. Because natural paints do not contain petroleum products, they emit few, if any, of the VOCs regulated by current paint standards.

While generally well tolerated, some natural oil-based products contain significant amounts of other VOCs from ingredients like citrus-based solvents.

Recyled: While unlikely to be low-VOC paints, recyled latext paint has its attractions for those not bothered by conventional paints, but who want to make environmentally friendlier choices.

PERFORMANCE MATTERS

"The first question the general public asks about zero- and low-VOC paints is, 'is it going to perform as well and last as long?' " reports Wendy Macdonald of CBR Products, a local manufacturer and distributor of eco-friendly paints and finishes.

Because most zero- and low-VOC paints are positioned as premium products in the market, they offer the same high performance as their conventional counterparts, just without the noxious chemicals.

Aaron Blokzyl, store manager at Sherwin Williams in Langley, describes one of his company's low-VOC products, Duration, as "representing the best of all our product lines. It is low-VOC, anti-microbial, very washable, high performance and very durable."

Natural paints, on the other hand, while considered the safest and most eco-friendly, do have some disadvantages. In addition to taking longer to dry, natural paints are not always compatible with existing latex paint surfaces. This means that using them may require more extensive surface preparation or the addition of synthetic -- and not always nontoxic -- additives for better compatibility with existing surfaces.

THE OTHER GREEN

Low- and zero-VOC paints can now be found on the shelves of your local paint supplier or hardware store -- and from brand-name manufacturers.

Additionally, the number of alternative paint companies like American Formulating and Manufacturing is growing. AFM products have the added benefit of acting as sealing agents, reducing or eliminating the off gassing of underlying finishes (e.g. previous coats of paint).

Eartheasy.com is one resource that offers a fairly comprehensive list of the non-toxic and natural paints currently available.

When it comes to cost, while most natural and zero-VOC paints come with a price out of reach for many people, most low-VOC paints are typically competitively priced with other common premium paints.

(taken from article prepared by Kim Davis/Vancouver Sun)