When we remodeled our condo I really wanted to purchase the VOC-free paint but I couldn’t convince Eric it was worth the price or worth sacrificing style in the fact that the line at HD never seemed to have the perfect color for what we were doing. I just read the following from the Ask The Science Man column on Seventh Generation’s website – from now on I will definitely purchase the low VOC-paint – I’m convinced it is worth the money!
Most conventional products have a high VOC content which increases your risk of certain health effects. VOC exposure has been associated with asthma, ‘sick-building-syndrome’ (a phenomenon in which building occupants experience acute health and/or comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a particular building) and respiratory and lung infections. Most people spend 90% of their time indoors, yet indoor air is up to 10 times more polluted than your ambient outdoor air (even if you live in the city). Therefore, it is always a good idea to keep your house well ventilated during any VOC emitting activity (i.e. painting, cleaning, installing carpets, etc.).
The value in choosing low-VOC or VOC-free alternatives in any product is avoiding exposure to toxic chemicals. Consider this decision comparable to choosing to buy organic foods in order to avoid ingesting pesticides. You breathe 20-40 pounds of air a day, much more than the amount of food you eat! Consider your long-term exposure as well. VOCs are emitted at high concentrations during product application, but will also continue to be emitted at lower levels over time. Fabrics and other materials in your house absorb any VOC emitted indoors, thus retaining them and releasing them into the air you breathe. There is research that supports using low-VOC products to significantly improve the indoor air quality of your home. Therefore, I believe it would be worth spending the extra money for VOC–free paint.
will also react with ozone to form secondary pollutants, including formaldehyde – known to be a human carcinogen.VOCs emitted from paint (and other conventional household and building products) contribute to greenhouse gases, smog formation, and ozone depletion. Some VOCs, formaldehyde, lead and/or chlorine. Certain ethers, glycol terpenes are typically related to consumer products containing traces of VOCs have harmful effects on the environment and human health. The negative environmental impacts and health effects from VOCsThere is plenty of scientific evidence supporting the claim that
