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WHAT'S A VOC?...One of the top 5 leading health risks in the US according to the EPA: Try indoor air! |
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Written by abs
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Saturday, 07 July 2007 04:54 |
Do you know what one of the top 5 leading health risks are in the US according to the EPA? Try indoor air. That's right, the air in your house. And one of the leading causes of that problem are the paints, varnishes and solvents we use containing VOC's. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound and has been a key component of the composition of oil based paint and can be a problem even in traditional latex based paints.
Exposure to VOC's in paint can trigger asthma attacks, eye irritation and respiratory problems, nausea and dizziness among other symptoms. Prolonged exposure has been linked to kidney and liver disease and even cancer.
Given the health concerns of consumers and new government regulations, alternative paints have been coming on the market over the past few years and now present a well rounded, economical choice over VOC intensive paints. Voluntary standards for VOC content in alternative paint products have been established by Green Seal®, an independent non-profit who sets standards for environmentally responsible or "green" products. The Green Seal certification for Standard GS-11 is based on VOC content, the absence of chemicals, durability and performance among other criteria.
The different types of healthy alternative paints include:
# Low Odor or Low VOC Paint
# Zero VOC Paint
# Non-Toxic or Natural Paint
The Green Seal organization sets much more stringent standards than the EPA for acceptable VOC levels in paint. For interior flat paint, the EPA allows levels of 250 grams per liter (g/L) while Green Seal allows only 50 g/L.
The other important benefit is that Green Seal prevents the use of the following nasty chemicals in the production of the paint:
* Halomethanes (methylene chloride)
* Chlorinated ethanes (1,1,1-trichloroethane)
* Aromatic solvents (benzene, toluene (methylbenzene), ethylbenzene)
* Chlorinated ethylenes (vinyl chloride)
* Polynuclear aromatics (naphthalene)
* Chlorobenzenes (1,2-dichlorobenzene)
* Phthalate esters (di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate)
* Miscellaneous semi-volatile organics (isophorone)
* Heavy metals and their compounds (antimony, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury)
* Preservatives (formaldehyde)
* Ketones (methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone)
* Miscellaneous volatile organics (acrolein, acrylonitrile)
Non-Toxic or Natural Paints are as safe as paint gets. Their raw ingredients are all natural and include things like:
* water
* plant oils (like citrus)
* plant dyes
* natural minerals such as clay
* milk protein
* natural latex
* bees' wax
* earth and mineral dyes and other ingredients.
Although these paints may have small amounts of ingredients such as latex milk protein, allergic reactions are very uncommon and these paints remain the safest type of paints you can use.
TRY Alternative Building Supply & Design Centre
Call 978-7900/287-0956 for an estimate
Clay paint
Recycled paper countertops
Srandwoven wood flooring
Recycled stone countertops |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 20 March 2010 14:37 |
