Whether you just moved into a new home, are creating a nursery for a new addition or are simply looking to shake things up, a new coat of paint helps to personalize and finish a room.
You know that smell that accompanies conventional paint though? Well what we are smelling is volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Health effects related to VOCs include organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), cancer and birth or developmental effects. VOCs also impair the brain and nervous system, the reproductive system and fertility, as well as the immune system. Doesn’t exactly sound like something we want to expose ourselves and our family to, huh?
Indoor concentrations of VOCs are regularly up to ten times as high as outdoor concentrations, and can climb up to a thousand times as high as outdoor concentrations during and after painting. According to the EPA, paints, stains, and other “architectural coatings” produce about 9% of the VOC emissions from consumer and commercial products, making them the second-largest source of VOC emissions after automobiles.
Fortunately, there are many natural, low-VOC and non-VOC paints currently on the market. Eartheasy.com explains these options and provides some of the brands that carry them to make shopping more easy:
Natural paints and finishes are made from natural ingredients such as water, plant oils and resins, plant dyes and essential oils; natural minerals such as clay, chalk and talcum; milk casein, natural latex, bees’ wax, earth and mineral dyes. Water-based natural paints give off almost no smell while the oil-based natural paints are usually fragranced with essential oils. Since the ingredients are natural, few experience allergies or sensitivities to these paints. For these reasons, they are the safest paints for both your health and for the environment. Win-win! Brands include:
Some of the natural paints in Unearthed Paints. The company not only seeks to keep homes non-toxic but is also working to save the rainforest. Check them out: http://www.unearthedpaints.com/
- Unearthed Paints
- Aglaia
- Livos
- Auro
- EcoDesign’s BioShield
- Weather-Bos
- SoyGuard (soy-based exterior stains, water repellants and sealers for wood surfaces)
- Silacote
- Anna Sova
- Green Planet Paints
- The Real Milk Paint Company
- Masters Blend
Non-VOC paints and finishes have VOC concentrations of 5 grams/liter or less. Some products labeled as “Zero-VOC” may still use colorants, biocides and fungicides so you still must be careful, particular if you have sensitive allergies. Brands include:
- Earthpaint (also sells wood finish, floor finish, and deck stain)
![]( "Yolo Paint colors")
Would you have guessed non-VOC paints would be so vivid? See what else Yolo Colorhouse has to offer: http://www.yolocolorhouse.com/
- ECOS Paints
- AFM Safecoat
- ICI Lifemaster 2000
- Best Paint Company
- ICI Decra-Shield (exterior paints)
- Kelly-Moore Enviro-Cote
- Devoe Wonder Pure
- Enso
- American Pride
- Sherwin Williams (can be found in most major hardware stores)
- Frazee Paint EnviroKote
- Allied PhotoChemical
- Olympic Paint and Stain
- Yolo Colorhouse
- Green Planet Paints
- Benjamin Moore Pristine EcoSpec (can be found in most major hardware stores)
- Mythic Paints
- PPG Architectural Finishes
- Homestead Paints
- Vista Paint – Zero-VOC low-odor Carefree Earth Coat line
- EarthSafePaints
Low-VOC Paints and Finishes: These paints and finishes use water rather than petroleum-based solvents. The levels of harmful emissions are lower as a result. They also do not contain (or contain very low levels) of heavy metals and formaldehyde. The amount of VOC’s varies among products but is listed on the paint can. Brands include:
- Benjamin Moore Aura
- Benjamin Moore Saman
- Cloverdale Horizon
- Cloverdale EcoLogic
- Miller Paint
- OIKOS Paints
- Timber Ox Green
There are also VOC-absorbing paints. That’s right, these paints are not only VOC-free but they absorb other VOCs present in your indoor air, such as from carpeting, furniture or electronics. As such, they essentially help purify your indoor air. Brands include:
- Atmosphere Purifying Wallpaint (APP)
- MDF Passivating Primer (MDFP)
- Anti-Formaldehyde Radiator (AFR) Paint
To read more about these paint options and for the links to the brand websites, see Eartheasy.com
