You are probably familiar with that "new house" smell. That smell is a result of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being released into your indoor air. This odor can be detrimental to your health.
The concentration of VOCs in interior spaces can be five times that of outdoor air. VOCs have been found to be major contributors to what is known as sick building syndrome, which is a set of health symptoms attributed to poor indoor environments within our homes and workplaces. Some of the health effects that can be attributed to the off-gassing of VOCs include asthma attacks, eye and throat irritation, headaches, nausea and allergic reactions.
The most common VOCs in paints include formaldehyde, benzene, pigment compounds which can include lead, cadmium and chromium, diethyl phthalate and dibutyl. While most standard paints include VOCs, oil based and alcohol based paints have more solvents and therefore more VOCs. These compounds become vaporized during the drying process and are easily breathed in.
Many companies are now releasing product lines that are low in or have no VOCs. For paints, the federal limit is 250-380 grams/liter depending on the finish. California's South Coast Air Quality Management District has set the standard for low VOC though with their 50 g/L limit. Below, we look at some of the product lines that are helping keep our homes healthy be reducing and even eliminating VOCs from their products.
What's Out There?
Zero VOC Paints:
These paints are typically more expensive, but they are the healthiest option for painting our homes. To claim Zero VOCs, products must have a greatly reduced VOC content, well below any standard that exists today. We will continue to use the term Zero VOC for these types of paints which often fall in the range of 5-10 g/L.
Benjamin Moore Natura Paint:
Natura is a 100% acrylic based paint that claims to be virtually odor free. This paint comes in three finishes, flat, eggshell and semi-gloss. A zero VOC primer is also available in the Natura product line. Benjamin Moore has given this product its internal Green Promise Seal and claims that the products meets or exceeds the standards for both GreenGuard and Green Seal certification (the product does not carry these certifications though). Natura products run about $35-50 per gallon depending on product and market.
Sherwin Williams Harmony Paint:
Harmony is a latex acrylic paint with anti-microbial qualities. Harmony comes in flat, eggshell and semi-gloss finishes and also has a complimenting Zero VOC primer. Sherwin Williams has given this product their Green Sure designation and it also carries the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. Like the Natura product, Harmony claims low odor and ease of application without health concerns. Harmony products run about $35-45 per gallon depending on product and market.
Mythic Paint:
Mythic paints come highly recommended by paint installers. The entire line is Zero VOC and ultra low odor. Mythic interior paints come in flat, eggshell, semi-gloss and high gloss finishes. Mythic also produces a line of Zero VOC primers as well as exterior paints. Mythic paints carry the Green Wise seal from the Coating Research Group, Inc, which is a manufacturer’s organization. Mythic paints can be harder to find and more expensive than other paint lines. Pricing ranges from $45-55 per gallon depending on the product, market and necessary shipping. Mythic paints are available online through their website.
Low VOC Paints:
Low VOC paints are cheaper and easier to find than their Zero VOC counterparts. There may be more odor and higher levels of VOCs in these paints, but each still exceeds federal standards and qualify for most green building standards. Most hardware stores will carry a line of Low VOC paints if not multiple product lines. Both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams (mentioned above) do carry lines of Low VOC paints but let’s explore some other manufacturers.
Duron Genesis Odor-Free Paint:
Genesis Odor-Free Paint is an affordable low VOC paint option provided by Duron. In comparison to paints labeled as Zero VOC, Genesis has 2-5 times the VOC levels depending on the finish. Genesis does come in three finishes, flat, eggshell and semi-gloss. Genesis is a acrylic latex paint and we could not find a counterpart low VOC primer in Duron's line of products. Genesis paints contain 15-40 g/L of VOCs. The price points for Genesis paints range from $25 to $35 per gallon depending on finish and market.
Valspar Interior Paints:
The entire line of Valspar interior paints are promoted as low VOC products. These products contain less than 50 g/L of VOCs. What we like about this product is the availability. The Valspar product line is available through Lowes stores and are accessible to both the professional and the do-it-yourselfer. Valspar paints come in a wide variety of finishes and formulas and each will have its own level of VOCs. The price range for Valspar paints $25-40 per gallon depending on finish and market.
It is becoming difficult to find paints that are still labeled as Low VOC because there is no defined standard for such claims. We advise that you ask questions and look for the lowest VOC content you can find. When buying paint, you should also keep in mind that most companies will base VOC content on the base paint without pigments. Pigmenting compounds can add substantially to the VOC content of a paint.
Conclusions:
We do think that research and questioning is still essential in the low/no VOC paint market. Without a controlling standard, not all Low and Zero VOC paints are created equal.