Low-VOC paints usually contain 50 g/l or less and zero-VOC paints usually contain 5 g/l or less. You can feel confident choosing a zero-VOC line of paints, but you should know that they can still contain low levels of VOCs.īy law, paint can contain VOC levels of up to 150 grams per liter (g/l), according to the State of California’s regulations (which are stricter than federal guidelines). Zero-VOC paints are growing in popularity, and I am glad they are because they are much safer than conventional paint. I didn’t include low-VOC paints on this list because I felt the emissions were higher than they should be, and because zero-VOC paints are a better alternative. There are two options when it comes to choosing a brand of non-toxic nursery paint: zero-VOC paints and natural paints. When it comes to choosing the paint you’ll use in your baby’s nursery, it’s essential that you go with a safer brand with lower emissions. For this reason, we want to limit toxic exposure to VOCs as much as possible, and one of the ways to do this is to carefully choose the products we use on and near our babies. And when it comes to a child’s developing system, it is important to know that their sensitivity to chemicals and VOCs is far greater than an adult’s. Symptoms can range from small headaches and eye irritation to serious health issues like liver toxicity. Some organic compounds have shown to cause cancer in animals, and are suspected (or known) to cause cancer in humans. Damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.Headaches, loss of coordination, and nausea.According to the Environmental Protection Agency, some of these health effects can include: Adverse Health Effects of VOCsĮxposure to VOCs can cause adverse health effects. Be sure to air out your home, choose non-toxic products whenever possible, and use an air purifier to reduce your exposure to VOCs as much as possible. Indoor air quality can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside, and this can largely be owed to the many items in our homes that off-gas VOCs. VOCs can be found indoors and outdoors, and are released when items are used (like painting a room or pumping gas) or stored (like keeping cans of paint in your garage).Īlthough paint emissions are the highest during and immediately after paint application, they can continue to release low levels of toxic emissions for several years. They react with sunlight and create smog. They include chemicals such as gasoline, benzene, and formaldehyde, and solvents such as toluene and perchloroethylene (the main solvent used in dry cleaning). VOCs are harmful and unstable chemicals that easily vaporize into the air at room temperature. What are VOCs?įirst, let’s talk a little about volatile organic compounds and why we want to avoid them. While it’s best to avoid painting the nursery (or your house) at all, the safer route if you decide to (or need to) paint is to use natural paints or zero-VOC paints, which are still effective while posing less of a health risk. And as the paint dries, harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the air, polluting its environment. That’s where no-voc paints come into play.Ĭonventional household paints can contain up to 10,000 different chemicals, including hundreds of known toxins and carcinogens. If you’re being careful about your baby’s chemical exposure by investing in non-toxic furniture, organic baby clothes, and non-toxic baby products, you will also want to be careful about air quality and the type of paint you use in the nursery. Smart move!īut, before you start picking out paint colors, I want to let you know that household paint is often one of the leading contributors to poor indoor air quality and toxin exposure. It can play a big role in bringing together the look and design of your nursery.Īnd a lot of other families buy unfinished nursery furniture and plan to finish it themselves.
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