Allergy and Asthma Sufferers: Tips for Picking Safer Paints

Tony 03/27/2019


Asthma and allergies are two chronic illnesses that people all around the world have to deal with on a daily basis. These conditions are especially prominent in the United States. In fact, about 24 million Americans have asthma, and respiratory allergies impact about 10% of children under the age of 18. With these conditions, it's important to do whatever possible to ensure breathing difficulties don't occur.


One area of concern for those with asthma or allergies is choosing interior house paint. Some paints have been known to contain harmful chemicals, so it's important to choose a safe paint, especially if you or a loved one has a respiratory condition. And with the house painting industry growing by 7.1% over the past five years, more and more people will run into this issue.


What's the best paint option for those with asthma?

Fortunately, paint has come a long way over the years and no longer contains certain concerning chemicals, like lead. But paint can still have a major impact on those who suffer from allergies or asthma. This is because today's paints still contain plenty of harmful chemicals. Volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, are toxins that are emitted into the air and can be harmful to your health. Emissions of VOCs reached 15.86 million tons in 2016 and they are still very much a real problem.


So, with allergies being the sixth leading chronic illness in the U.S., it's important to choose healthier paint. The best paint for asthma sufferers will contain fewer toxins. You should always look for low or zero-VOC* paint to minimize your exposure to these chemicals. It's also important to look at what kind of chemicals are in the pigment added to the paint because these aren't always clearly listed. And whenever you're using paint, low-VOC or not, you should always make sure that you are using a good quality air filter and change the filters frequently.


With there being 8.1% of the U.S. population being diagnosed with asthma in 2017 alone, asthma and allergies are still a major concern. So if you suffer from one of these conditions, keep these tips in mind to ensure you're choosing safe paint and minimizing the risk of harm. Looking for the chemicals paint contains and choosing safe options can allow you to paint in your house without risking your health.


*Zero VOC - Conforms to CDPH 01350 (VOC emissions test taken at 11, 12, & 14 days for classroom and office use).


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