The days are long, the sun is hot,
But VOCs in paint are not!
For a fume-free sheen that won't make you faint,
Just coat your walls with eco-friendly paint!
Apartment walls in need of a little feng shui? Take care in how you choose to splash some color into your life. Most paints on the market contain high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can trigger headaches, cause dizziness, and may even be carcinogenic. So what can you do to avoid these not-so-environmentally-friendly fumes?
- Search for paints made with low levels of VOCs or even zero-VOCs. Less than 250 grams per liter for latex paints is recommended. Check out this link for examples of VOC labels to help you identify more eco-friendly paint as well as other products: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/
Greenerhomeandgarden/Greenershopping/DG_064876 - During your painting project as well as after, make sure that the area you are in is properly ventilated. A fan in an open window will help you to ensure that fresh air is continually moving throughout your workspace.
- If you are particularly sensitive to paint fumes or simply want to protect your lungs, you may want to purchase a respirator mask from your local home improvement store and wear it while you work. Keep in mind that this is likely not necessary if the paint you are using has zero VOCs!
Check It Out
Eco-friendly paint made with plant resins and mineral pigments in various colors: http://www.greenplanetpaints.com/index.cfm?
fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=267
Non-toxic paint with zero-VOCs: http://www.mythicpaint.com/index.aspx
Paint that is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified®: http://freshairechoice.com/
Information on Paint Recycling: http://earth911.com/hazardous/
paint/helpful-links-on-paint-recycling/
Comments (0):