what are VOC's and why should we avoid them?
Do you remember that rather strong acrid smell of a newly painted room or when new carpets are laid - that’s the VOCs you’re smelling - the nasties we should think about eliminating from our homes.
VOC – volatile organic compounds – are in the main chemically made compounds/ingredients found in paints, glues, vinyl, floor sealants, paint strippers, varnishes, furnishings - on some wallpapers - and in loads of building products. These ‘high tech materials’ produce a ‘cocktail of chemicals’ the effects of which are largely unknown. Formaldehyde – a known carcinogenic - is the most common VOC found indoors.
A surprising fact: indoor air quality is 10 times more concentrated than outside. Outdoor air pollution is on-going news, but we spend 90% of our lives indoors, either at home or in the office.
Most decorators will tell you they don’t like the ecological paints because they don’t go on as easily as standard ones. Paint is made up of pigment, solvent and binders. It’s the solvents and binders – normally made from petro-chemicals - that emit the VOCs, which we inhale. Exposure to VOCS can cause headaches, nausea and can cause or aggravate asthma. Long term exposure can lead to nervous system and organ damage or worse. The World Health Organisation says that professional decorators are 40% more likely to get lung cancer. The EU produced new legislation on VOCs in 2010. Germany, France and Belgium are making further restrictions.
Little babies and children, whose organs are growing, are particularly vulnerable to toxic substances. It’s a no brainer to paint your kids’ bedrooms, living rooms etc with VOC free paints. More expensive, but way less toxins for little lungs to inhale. Remember too that true eco paints can be composted – a plus for the environment.
We all will have some element of toxins in our homes – more so in new builds and refurbishments. Don’t worry - open windows - and don’t ever burn anything made from petro-chemicals. A new-default mode for us and our planet.
