Low VOC Paints for a Healthy Home

Paints, stains, lacquers, and other common household products, such as cleansers, are large contributors to indoor air pollution. The problem is they contain VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. VOCs are carbon-based chemical gases that can cause asthma or other respiratory distress, allergies, eye, nose, and throat irritation, and in extreme cases, damage to the nervous system and vital organs. High concentrations of VOCs are found in new buildings or buildings that have currently undergone a remodel, and buildings that have recently been cleaned. However, VOCs, especially from paint, can linger in the air for many years. To reduce exposure to VOCs, companies such as Real Milk Paint, Livos, BioShield, and Soy Guard, have started producing paint products that contain less or zero VOCs. So, the next time you shop for paint, look for the Green Seal certification for healthier paints.