http://www.care2.com/greenliving/is-your-paint-making-you-sick.html
Is Your Paint Making You Sick?
I’ve had to tell our Facilities Department not to paint inside our buildings during work hours. Every time this has happened, one or more employees in the area leave work immediately because of the smell and how it makes them feel. Paints can contain some fairly toxic and irritating chemicals.
The most common problem with paints is volatile organic compounds (or VOCs). As paint is applied to a surface and begins to dry, the VOCs in the paint are escaping into the air and may continue to off-gas at low levels for years after application.
People working or living in a freshly painted area may breathe in these VOCs which can cause a variety of health problems like headaches, dizziness and other acute symptoms. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some VOCs used in paints are known human carcinogens and VOCs emissions can also contribute to ozone depletion.
Because of the problems with VOCs, low-VOC paints are becoming more and more popular. As the name implies, these paints contain fewer volatile organic compounds and must meet the definition of low-VOC paints established by the federal government. Most major paint manufacturers offer low-VOC paints, and these are much healthier than standard paint.
Low VOC paints however can still off-gas VOCs and generate an odor. Paint manufacturers are now beginning to offer zero-VOC paints. These are even healthier for you than the low-VOC paints, and they are also advertised as being completely odorless. There are catches, of course. No VOC paints are more expensive, harder to find, available in a limited number of colors and may not work as well as other paints. Plus, when pigment is added at the store, the VOC levels can climb back up (although one brand, Freshaire Choice, claims the pigments used for their product are also VOC-free).
Zero-VOC paints may cost more and your selection may be limited, but they are healthier for you and the environment.
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Kabin
Konteyner,Prefabrik
mega kabin
Konteyner
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One of the best paints I have discovered so far and recommend to my clients here in Europe is clay paint (for example www.tierrafino.com). It has beautiful warm colors, is non-toxic and gives your walls a wonderful warm glow. It also absorbs extra moisture if your home climate tends to be too humid and releases moisture when the air becomes a bit dry.
I personally use the pure clay, mix it with rosewater (has a cleansing effect to the atmosphere of the space, too AND smells wonderfully :) ) and rub it into the surface of the wall with fluid motions for a transparent, lively effect.
Warmth,
Lioba
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I have asthma and inherited emphysema and had not been able to paint my bedroom in many years because i could not sleep in it for weeks afterward without having severe respiratory problems. I saw No-VOC Freshaire on the Care 2 website and LOVE it. I could not do the painting itself, but was able to sleep in the room that night without a wheeze. The pigment is very unusual - looks like herbs, but mixes in with no residue. My daughter used it to pain my grandchildren's rooms because she didn't want to expose them to VOC even though they don't have asthma.
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Be careful about feeling good on this. The government definition of a VOC for paint is NOT a true definition of a VOC - they only define it for indoor ozone. So even "zero VOC" paints can have VOC's. Theer are also lots of other bad things like chromium that can be in the paint that are not VOC's. No VOC and "healthy" are not the same thing. You need to really research the paint you choose or you will fool yourself.
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I have also heard that no voc doesn't cover as well. Does anyone have experience that would help? Does it matter what color you use? What are some altrnatives to point that offer no vocs?
Meredith
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When it came time to paint my bedroom, I finally woke up and realized that I needed to use the low-VOC paint. I painted just white and was glad I went low-VOC since I had to sleep in there mid-painting. The rest of my house was painted with normal paint and I will not go in that direction again since I had issues with the fumes (it would take days! to leave).
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