Consumers are aware of the potential toxicity of VOCs in household products. Paints and varnishes contain carbon-based compounds, heavy metals, and other unsavory materials. Low VOC and no VOC products are becoming more popular, but they may be less effective and more expensive. Regulations require paint manufacturers to produce low VOC coatings. Advertised VOC-free paints may still contain some toxins and additives can increase VOC levels. Efforts are underway to develop VOC-free pigments and additives, but this may further increase costs and reduce effectiveness.
Consumers today are much more knowledgeable about household products containing potentially toxic levels of varying organic compounds, commonly known as VOCs. Paints, stains and varnishes have long contributed greatly to the prolific release of VOCs, sometimes known as outgassing. This explains the growing popularity of low VOC and no VOC products for coatings and finishes.
Paints and varnishes, as well as many other decorative and protective finishes and coatings, contain a number of carbon-based components, as well as heavy metals, formaldehydes, fungicides, anti-mold and other unsavory materials. While these often extremely toxic carbon-based compounds are found in more concentrated form in alkyd or oil-based paints and stains; water-based or latex coatings also contain many of these same compounds. In conventional paints, these compounds contribute to the product’s drying, covering and fading properties, gloss retention, and color performance and acceptance.
The problem in producing VOC-free paints is to maintain the basic properties of a cheap and effective coating while significantly reducing VOC levels. This is often achieved by using synthetic compounds, essentially purifying the essential ingredients that make paint an effective, low-cost, easy-to-apply decorative and protective coating. Additionally, paint manufacturers are starting to rely on natural compounds to replace many of the carbon-based components previously used. Unfortunately, and despite the best efforts of modern chemistry, this trend towards VOC-free products usually results in less effective products, often at significantly higher cost.
Additionally, paint manufacturers are now required by state and federal law to produce low VOC coatings. These regulations are based on guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which mandate certain levels of VOCs not only in paints, but in a range of other household cleaning products, pesticides, adhesives and printer ink , among other things. The commonly accepted VOC limit for latex paints is around 350 grams per liter (g/L) for regular oil-based paints, while a maximum of 250 g/L is generally considered acceptable for latex paints.
paints advertised as VOC-free are often not truly free of all toxins, but generally contain less than 5 g/L of VOCs. Also, keep in mind that advertised low-VOC and VOC-free coatings are measured before pigments, dyes, and other additives are put into the product. Virtually all pigments and dyes will raise VOC levels by approximately 10 g/L or more. Other additives, such as extra ultraviolet (UV) inhibitors, wetting or drying agents commonly further increase VOC levels.
Work is currently underway to develop pigments, dyes and other additives that are also VOC free. However, this will inevitably result in an even greater reduction in the effectiveness of the coatings, further increasing the expense. This seems to be the price for emphasizing green building practices and a less toxic home and work environment.
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