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 VOC-Free Paintsupdated 07/28/2008 
What are VOC's?Volatile organic compounds, more commonly known as VOC's, can include a variety of different types of chemicals. VOC's are emitted as gases from particular liquids or solids, and can have both short and long-term adverse health effects on people. Volatile organic compounds are a topic that everyone needs to learn about, as they are found in a multitude of household products, and are generally harmful to our health. How Am I Exposed to VOC's?Examples of products that typically contain VOC's:
If you use regular paints, you should always throw away any remainders that you have once a project is complete. The reason for this is that paints not only release VOC's while you are using them; they also release a certain amount of toxic fumes even when they are being stored.¹
As you can see from this list, the danger of VOC's comes from many sources in our daily lives. One of the many things that you can do to live green is to use VOC-free paints. VOC-free paints are a perfect choice for painting in your home, as they are free of the noxious odors that are usually associated with painting. Regular paints, varnishes, and finishes release low-level toxic emissions into the air that linger for years after any painting job is complete.
Remember to look for VOC information before purchasing any type of product, particularly paints, in which VOC's are normally found. The lower the VOC content, the safer the product is for your health. Of course, VOC-free is better, but if you cannot find those products, then at least purchase products with a low VOC number. The number ranges are from 5 to 200. The United States Environmental Protection Agency conducted a series of studies called the Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM), and found the levels of at least 12 commonly used VOC's to be two to five times higher in homes than outside.² This was the case regardless of whether a home was located in a rural or industrial area. Possible Symptoms of VOC's ExposureMost people are not even aware of this problem, even though most of us do realize that paint and varnish fumes usually make us feel bad in one way or another. If you are concerned about VOC's, and would like to know more about the potentially harmful health effects that can result from exposure to them, the following list should provide you with a pretty good idea of just how serious an issue this can be.
Switching to VOC-free paints is one way that you can help to make a difference for the environment, and for your own personal health. Once you start to use VOC-free paints instead of the more traditional brands, you should immediately notice how much better the VOC-free paints are. Not only are they odor-free, they are durable and leave easy to clean surfaces. In fact, public demand for VOC-free paints has been on the rise over the past several years; so much so until most major manufacturers now sell at least one type of VOC-free paints along with their "regular" paints. REFERENCES
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