Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are some of the sneakiest culprits of indoor air pollution. Smoke and carbon monoxide may raise alarms, but most might not think that something as innocuous as the paint that was just used to redesign their master bedroom is still ruining the quality of their indoor air with VOC pollution.
Many paints on the market nowadays come laden with VOCs. These compounds often help with paint transference, perseveration and rust-prevention, but research has been continuously showing just how harmful these compounds can be to building occupants and the environment. Cancer, damage to the central nervous system and respiratory issues are just some of the effects from prolonged exposure to these compounds.
Thankfully, however, research has also made great steps forward in producing many alternative low-VOC paints to replace the more toxic products that often get used in home design, and in the fight against VOCs, finding ways to avoid them is always the best option. And Sarah Moore at AZO materials has identified two types of low-VOC paints that would fit perfectly in any client’s home.
Organic Paints
Made from natural, organic products, organic paints often come from a variety of animal or plant sources, such as beeswax, milk or chalk. They’re also often considered to be non-toxic and far safer than traditional paints.
Ann Sova paints, Moore points out, are made from 96% food ingredients. Another brand of organic paint ECOS, has already been successful in being chosen to paint areas of the Louvre, Westminster Abbey and the Getty Museum.
Ceramic Paints
Instead of VOCs, ceramic paints use tiny ceramic beads as pigment extenders, so tiny, in fact, that they look almost like powder when added to the paint. But be assured, these beads fulfill a pivotal role as a filler in paint pigmentation.
As Moore states, traditional organic options for pigment extenders have often allowed dirt to enter the paint, weakening the color over time. The ceramic beads, however, can pack in so close to one another, that this ends up not being an issue.
Additionally, ceramic’s antimicrobial properties make their way right into the paint, making it so all ceramic paint also prevents the growth of bacteria on its surface.
