by Anne Stjern

Created on: December 10, 2008   Last Updated: December 15, 2008

Updating your living space with a fresh coat of paint is a quick and easy way to add new interest to your home. But with today's concerns about the environment, the decision for updating wall color is no longer limited to color choice. The problems with indoor air quality, which the EPA reports as being up to three times as toxic as outdoor air, is a consideration for many consumers, especially parents, pet owners, and people with allergies.

Heightened consumer interest in lowering toxicity in the home and office compounded by tightening environmental regulations, led to paint manufacturers becoming interested in developing indoor paint that present less of an environmental impact. In the last few years, a number of paint products have been developed that reduce the toxins typically present in paint. The toxins, namely VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) were thought to be unavoidable when producing high quality paints. That is not the case anymore. Gone are the days of having to move out of the house while the newly painted walls dried due to the overpowering smell and trying to find a safe way to dispose of unused paint.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Non-toxic, low VOC and zero VOC paints and finishes produced by nationally recognized companies such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams now share shelf space with lesser-known environmentally conscious manufacturers. A full array of colors, finishes, and stains that are based on natural compounds including clay, milk, minerals, bee's wax, and other earth friendly ingredients are readily available. Unlike conventional paints, low and zero VOC paints are very low odor while applying and do not continue to give off toxic fumes once the paint has dried making them much easier on the environment and your family.

WHAT TO AVOID

Paints containing 200 grams of VOC per liter are listed as a toxic substance by the EPA. Although most low VOC paint is marked as such, it is important to check for an EPA, OSHA, or DOT registration number on any product you consider. If there is a registration number, then the product is not environmentally friendly.

One of the solvents commonly used in latex paints is ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol is odorless and colorless but is extremely toxic. If you choose to paint with latex, be sure and read the label for this chemical and if it is listed as an ingredient, seek out paint from another manufacturer. There are several paint manufacturers who produce a line of ethylene glycol free products such as Dunn-Edwards.

RESOURCES

There is a number of interesting paint alternatives available to consumers interested in living green. To learn more about how to select and use non-toxic paint to update your color scheme, the following websites are a good place to start.

www.milkpaint.com
www.timberoxinfo.com
www.safep aint.net

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