Healthy Indoors | 47
The company providing technology that destroys pollutants
such as mold, bacteria, and viruses, Molecule.Science.com, says,
"Off-gassing is when products release particulate matter and
gases that were formerly trapped in a liquid or solid form."
Molecule.Science.com adds that "The resulting gas-
es, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
are often carcinogenic or can react with other com-
mon air components to form known carcinogens."
The process of off-gassing is a slow and insidious
one. Its effects are most profound indoors. The off-gas-
sing process usually takes several weeks, and its ef-
fects can remain in the environment for months.
Chemicals like formaldehyde and butyl acetate are com-
monly used in the manufacturing industry. The products
manufactured from these chemicals get into our homes,
and we inhale their scents as we go about our daily busi-
ness. Their odors remain on the surfaces of manufactured
products even months after they leave the factory.
But the absence of smell is not indicative of an absence
of off-gassing. VOCs may continue to release traces of gases
into the air even after their odors are no longer detectable.
Natural Vs. Non-Toxic
Natural paint was popularized when Livos, a German company,
manufactured the world's first all-natural paint in 1974. These
environmentally friendly paints are entirely biodegradable, non-
toxic, and made from 100 percent natural raw materials.
Natural paints are made from natural sources and may be
milk-based, plant-based, or clay-based. All synthetic chemicals and
other harmful compounds found in traditional paints are avoided
when making natural paints. This makes natural and non-toxic
paints zero-VOC paints.
However, even these natural paints off-gas. This is be-
cause of the presence of synthetic solvents. Fortunate-
ly, most of these solvents evaporate within a few hours
of use and no longer off-gas once they dry up.
How Long do VOCs Last?
Paint typically dries anywhere between some hours to a couple
of days after applying. But VOCs do not vanish after the paint has
dried. They do not disappear after the smell of paint becomes
undetectable either. But for how long exactly do they continue
to permeate the environment?
This would depend on several factors like the quantity of
VOCs in your paint, the area painted, and how well ventilat-
ed the area painted is. Experts have not precisely determined
how long VOCs last in the air after the paint has dried, but they
estimate that these toxins remain in the air for many months.
A home inspection by Ian Cull of Indoor Air Nerd found
"very high levels" of VOCs in the air six months after paints and
varnishes had been applied to a home under construction. This
test was conducted using a photoionization detector (PID), an
instrument that measures gases and volatile compounds in the air.
There was a 40% drop in these VOC levels another month
after the homeowner followed some of Cull's recommendations
on reducing VOCs. This is a testament to how the time it takes
for VOCs to dissipate depends on the measures taken to
quicken this process.
Chemicals in Paint
Besides VOCs, there are many other potentially dangerous
chemicals in paint. For instance, the US Department of Labor's
Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that
Oil-based paints contain potentially toxic hydrocarbons, which
are highly flammable substances like paint thinners.
Oil-based paints contain harmful pigments like cobalt, titanium,
lead chromate, cadmium, and carbon black.
Lead-based paints are also dangerous to human health due
to the high volume of lead required to produce them. Many
houses built in the United States before 1978 were painted using
lead-based paint. According to the Centers for Diseases
Control and Prevention (CDC), children are often the most at risk
of the dangers of lead-based paint as they may ingest the lead
chips from peeling paint on walls.
Resin-type paints also pose health risks. Resin-type paints,
while being low-VOC, contain other harmful substances like iso-
cyanates. An isocyanate is a polymer that can cause a strong asth-
matic type respiratory reaction in people sensitive to isocyanates.
Dry powder coating paints are predominantly used on
metal surfaces. According to the Atlantic Environment Corp.,
the dry powder used in making these paints poses a slight
health risk, especially to factory workers who use them in
the manufacturing process. Dry powder coating paints also
contain hazardous components like silica or carbon black.
Reducing Exposure
Now that we have learned all there is to know about VOCs,
how can we avoid them? How can we keep ourselves and
our loved ones safe from the harms of these compounds?
The Minnesota Department of Health suggests the key phrase
here is to be intentional, making a conscious effort only to procure
paints specially designed for indoor use and carry the right "low
VOC" or "zero VOC" labels that signal their eco-friendly nature.
Healthline.com suggests other ways to reduce exposure to VOCs:
Providing better ventilation in spaces by leaving windows and
doors open, especially after a new paint job.
When painting, prevent overexposure from painting fumes
and other VOC sources by taking breaks and getting some fresh
air outside when you need to.
Seal all left-over paint cans to prevent the evaporation of
vapors into the surrounding environment, or properly dispose of
unused paints if possible.
Writing for the magazine dedicated to home building,
renovations, and remodeling, Thespruce.com, Mary Leverette,
suggests using natural remedies that absorb odors like onions,
baking soda, charcoal, coffee grounds, lemon water, and natural
extracts like vanilla and peppermint.
Phil Ash has run his own painting business and has 20-plus years
of painting experience. He founded the Pro Paint Corner to connect
consumers with painting experts to provide unbiased answers to
painting questions. You can learn more at https://propaintcorner.com.
