Painting and VOCs
You may or may not be aware, but there are paints on the market that contain low volitile organic compounds (more commonly referred to as VOC’s). Basically what it means is that there are low levels of organic compounds that are able to significantly vaporize into the atmosphere. These types of paints are basically toxic-free and are better for your indoor (outdoor benefits too) air quality than paints that are considered ‘conventional.’ These paints are particularly sought out when painting around pregnant women and newborns/babies (think their first experiences of air), as well as people with sensitive allergies.
Low- or no-VOC paints are good for anyone, though, as the chemicals, including formaldehyde, not only are leaked into the air when it is smelly and wet, but it continues to leak these toxins into your indoor air well beyond it’s application time.
VOCs are traditionally put in paints as preservatives. Conventional paints can last up to 20 years on the shelf, as opposed to an average of 4 for the low- or no-VOC paints. Make sure you shop around, because the cost of these paints vary dramatically! For example, Benjamin Moore’s low-VOC paints cost approximately $55/gallon, whereas Pittsburgh Pure Performance low-VOC paints cost around $25.16. I don’t need to tell you that its a serious price difference. American Pride and Sherwin-Williams Harmony both make no-VOC paints, and both fall into the same price range of $35-40/gallon.
Happy Healthy Painting!