5 Questions that Show the Importance of Using Low-VOC Paint in Your Home

The following five questions address one potentially harmful home product that many homeowners may not be aware of. Home maintenance means more than caring for your home, but also becoming aware of the potential health and environmental hazards that exist within that environment. By understanding the levels of VOC found in a typical can of paint, you will be one step closer to protecting your family and the world around you. 1.     What are VOC’s? In a typical can of interior wall paint, there are many different chemicals and materials that have been mixed to create the right consistency and pigment. As research has shown, many of these cans of paint contain chemicals referred to as VOC’s. What are VOC’s one might ask? VOC’s, or volatile organic compounds, are compounds that contain carbon which easily vaporizes into air when released. When the VOC’s make contact with the air, elements react, and ozone is produced. When using paint high in VOC’s you are creating an environment in which these potentially harmful chemicals are released directly into the air of your home. This wet VOC-containing paint has been shown to release a high amount of chemical substance into the air while still wet, and even one year after the paint has dried, may still give off a portion of the same toxic substance. Now that you know what VOC’s are, you may be wondering what risks are involved. 2.     What are the Potential Risks? The dangers of VOC’s include many potential risks to health and environment. From a simple headache to potential cancer-causing toxins, the effects of VOC’s have been shown to be extremely harmful to humans and pets alike. When planning your home maintenance routine, you may want to now include awareness of toxins to your list. VOC’s not only affect your health, but can have a dangerous effect on the environment as a whole. 3.     How do they Effect the Environment? As VOC’s make contact with the air, ozone is created and adds the pollution already existing in the environment. While the health of your individual home and family is important, the environment affects everyone and everything around you. If each consumer made the effort to change simple home maintenance procedures, the earth might be spared a little more pollution. 4.     What are the Available Alternatives? Alternative interior paints have been created with much lower levels of VOC’s. These lower levels of VOC allow you to reduce the pollutants in your own breathing air, as well as the air in the environment. Keeping your family safe from these toxic chemicals is one home maintenance step that can affect the long-term health and well-being of your family. 5.     Where can these Safer Alternatives be found? Low-VOC paint can typically be found wherever paint is sold. Ask someone in the paint department of your local hardware store to direct you to eco-friendly paint alternatives for your interior home maintenance and painting needs. Because paint-related products are some of the worst environmental pollutants in our society today, doing your part to reduce to pollution on the earth, as well as in your own home, can make a bigger impact than you may think.]]>