The Toxic Truth About Most “Low-VOC” and “Zero VOC” Paints

What do you think of when you see the terms "low-VOC," "no-VOC," or "zero VOC" on the side of a can of paint? If you're like most people, you probably think the paint is safer and doesn't release as many fumes into your indoor air. Maybe you think it's worth the premium price because it protects the health of your family. Unfortunately, for the most part, you'd be wrong

The Lullaby collection by ECOS Paints was designed with your child's health in mind. With our sustainable ingredients and a proprietary mixing process, our Lullaby paints deliver a best-in-class appearance and enhanced durability that will endure for years to come.

Ready to learn more about choosing a VOC-free paint for your family's safety? Let's dive in!

What are the acceptable levels of VOCs in paints?

Federal VOC limits are now set at 250 grams per liter (g/l) for flat paints and 380 g/l for others. But, there's a patchwork of different standards in states and regions across the U.S. For example, California's standards are stringent: 150 g/l for nonflat finishes and 100 g/l for flat. And, when you have lower requirements in such a massive economy, it tends to impact the whole industry, so today, a typical can of flat interior latex paint contains about 150 grams per liter of VOCs. Low-VOC is usually 50 g/l or less and zero-VOC is usually 5 g/l or less.

Did you catch that first discrepancy? Zero-VOC paints can still contain VOCs. But, that's just the beginning of how misleading these claims are. Allow us to spell out a few other toxic truths:

Toxic Truth #1: Colorants May Be Anything But Low-VOC or Zero VOC

Even if you invest in low or zero VOC paint, if you're adding a conventional color tint, you're likely defeating your intentions. Oftentimes, the base paint may be low VOC or VOC free, but the colorant may not be. It's important to choose a brand whose paints are truly low or no VOC.

The bottom line: if you want low-VOC paint, look for low-VOC base paint and low-VOC colorant. Typical colorants used to tint paint can be much higher in VOCs and can bump your VOC levels right back up to 100 g/L or more. (FYI - Darker colors tend to have higher VOC levels.)

Toxic Truth #2: VOC Regulations Were Not Developed To Reduce Indoor Exposure

VOC content regulations were developed to help reduce outdoor VOC emissions that contribute to the formation of ground ozone and smog. They were not developed to reduce indoor VOC emissions or chemical exposure to building occupants.

But, you are probably more concerned with VOCs because they have health effects. VOCs can cause respiratory distress; skin and eye irritation; headaches; nausea; muscle weakness; and even more serious ailments and diseases. For example, formaldehyde, a VOC often found in the home because of its presence in engineered wood products, including furniture, cabinetry and building materials, is considered a probable carcinogen by the EPA, is listed on California's Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, is genotoxic (damaging to genetic material), and also causes eye, nose and throat irritation.

When it comes to trying to reduce toxic chemical exposures, understanding the regulatory framework is important for any class of products. For example, if you buy a paint labeled "low VOC", you are usually buying a paint that has low VOC content based upon the definition of VOC under the federal Clean Air Act. In this context, VOCs are defined in terms of photochemical reactivity (ability to form ozone), and not toxicity. In the regulatory context, certain VOCs are exempt from regulation because they are not photochemically reactive (they are not smog precursors). However, these VOCs may be toxic. But they are associated with adverse health effects.

Toxic Truth #3: It's Difficult To Predict What May End Up In The Air

Testing shows that VOC content doesn't exactly correlate to VOC emissions. (We know - it's confusing.) The "Paint Volatile Organic Compound Emissions and Volatile Organic Compound Content Comparison Study" conducted by the Underwriter's Laboratory found that oftentimes paints with less VOC content had more VOC emissions and vice versa. There was no way to predict from what was in the paint, what might end up in the air.

According to the study, "the results demonstrate that paint VOC content should not be used as a proxy for paint VOC emissions into indoor air, as there is no correlation between the two measures. These results demonstrate that low VOC content is not necessarily indicative of acceptable VOC emissions for specific compounds with known health impacts. Thus, building designers, owners and operators, or occupants may be provided a false sense of security regarding the quality of the indoor air."

How Can You Create A Healthier Home?

Given the fact that most companies have taken advantage of the lack of oversight and regulation and perpetuate marketing messages that blur the truth, you really need to do your research before buying any paint.

For both the paint and the color tint, ask the manufacturer for the MSDS (or find it on their website), which should share the ingredients, so you can identify any ingredients of concern that may not fall under federal VOC regulations.

Find a company you can trust -- like ECOS Paints. Seriously, we were just as confused and frustrated with the industry and that's why we created ECOS Paints. We wanted something better. We're the first paint company to offer transparency with a Declare label and VOC testing results. And we're truly zero VOC.*

Order your samples today and start creating a healthier home!