Paint Buying Guide
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Interior paint can be a big contributor to indoor air pollution and toxic exposure because it covers a lot of area in your home. Fortunately, manufactures have made progress in recent years to remove some of the most harmful chemicals from paints and have reduced overall emissions. Paints labelled as low-VOC are now widely available, but this claim alone is not enough to identify the safest options.
Here are the most important things to look for when considering which paint to buy.
APE’s
According to the Healthy Building Network, “if you have been concerned about VOCs in your paint, you should be equally concerned about APE’s.” (source) Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) are a group of chemicals that are used as surfactants in paint. Certain APEs are suspected endocrine disrupters, which can interfere with the body’s hormonal systems. They are also toxic to fish and aquatic life. (source) The Healthy Building Network recommends avoiding the entire category of APE chemicals.
VOC Content
Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, include a wide variety of chemicals that release gases into the air. The release of these gases is called off-gassing. The greatest amount of off gassing occurs during the application process and during the period until the paint is fully cured. Air quality experts estimate that paint will typically off-gas for 2 to 3 months. (source). However, that depends on many factors including the type of chemicals and the amount of ventilation in your home. Some VOCs can linger for many years, even when the odor is no longer detectable. It is best to look for products that minimize VOCs.
Common VOCs found in paint are formaldehyde and benzene which have been associated with respiratory problems, headaches, nausea, and elevated carcinogenic risk. (source). The coatings industry tends to categorize paint as “low VOC” if its VOC content is <50g/L, “very” or “ultra-low VOC” if its VOC content is <10g/L, and “zero” VOC if its VOC content is <5g/L. There is no uniform standard for these terms. California’s SCAQMD 1113 regulation, which is a state emissions regulation that is widely used, considers coating products to be “Super-Compliant Coatings” if they have VOC content <10g/L.
It may not be as simple as looking for paint with a low VOC label to determine your exposure. There are several factors to consider that impact your total VOC exposure.
Base Type
Different base types, such as extra white or antique white, may have different VOC content even if it is from the same product line. Make sure you know the VOC content of the base you plan to use.
Finish Type
Like bases, different finish types, such as eggshell or flat, may have different VOC content.
Colorants
The colorant or pigment that is added to the base may add additional VOCs. It is important to understand the total VOC content from both the base and the colorants that you plan to use. Often darker colors have higher VOC levels.
Number of Coats
The more coats you need, the more paint is used which increases the VOC content.
Primer
Don’t forget to check the VOC content of your primer. The SCAQMD 1113 regulation allows for a higher VOC content in primer than in paint base. The coatings industry may label primers with a VOC level of 100 g/L as low VOC.
VOC Emissions
Not all VOCs that are emitted from paint are included in the VOC content measure. Some of these chemicals are captured in VOC emissions. If available, it is helpful to look at both VOC emission levels and VOC content.
VOC content may not give you the full picture of the VOCs that end up in your air. As Andy Pace, from the Green Design Center points out, “VOC’s are not regulated because of direct human heath issues.” The EPA’s VOC regulations were initially designed to reduce smog in outdoor air. Some VOCs that do not significantly contribute to smog are exempt even though they are not safe for indoor air. Acetone and ammonia are among the exempt chemicals. (source)
There are additional limitations to the VOC content measure. Formaldehyde is no longer added to paint as an ingredient but it can form during the application and curing process, particularly if certain preservatives are used. Also, ingredients that are less than 1% of the volume don’t need to be included in the VOC content.
Evaluating both VOC emissions and VOC content can help provide a more complete assessment of a paint product. Manufacturers may provide VOC emissions testing that shows compliance with the most widely used standard, California Department of Health (CDPH) Standard Method for Testing and Evaluation of VOC Emissions, which measures 35 targeted chemicals at 14 days after application. Results can be either self-reported or as part of a third -party certification (described below).
Antimicrobials
Antimicrobials are a kind of pesticide. They are used in paints as a preservative, and some are necessary. (source) But some manufacturers add additional antimicrobials to enable them to make health claims. Avoid products marketed with claims that include “antimicrobial,” antifungal, “reduces growth of” or “controls allergens.” These pesticide additives have unproven benefits, but studies suggest negative health effects including developmental toxicity and respiratory sensitization. (source)
Certifications
There are several certifications that can help you find safer paints but they each have limits. These are voluntary programs that manufacturers must pay to participate in, so it is possible that some brands meet these requirements even if they do not carry the certification. You can ask a manufacturer if they meet any of these requirements.
Green Seal –11
This is most stringent third-party certification because it does not allow APEs, requires VOC content to minimally meet low VOC levels, and it limits heavy metals, preservatives that release formaldehyde into the air and any chemicals that are considered carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxicants. The downside of this certification is that does not require VOC emission standards, though that is a proposed update. Also, while it requires VOC content that meets low-VOC standards, it is preferable to choose very low-VOC and zero-VOC products. This certification also includes environmentally friendly packaging and performance standards. (source)
Green Wise and Green Wise Gold
This is another very stringent third-party certification. The following chemical components are not used as ingredients in the manufacture of any Green Wise or Green Wise Gold certified product: methylene chloride, dichlorobenzene, phthalates, isophorone, formaldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, alkylphenol ethoxylates. The following heavy metals are also restricted: antimony, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury. Crystalline silica is also prohibited in free form (but may be present as a trace level contaminant in other raw materials). According to Green Wise, “Green Wise Gold products have been tested and certified to pass the indoor air quality requirements of the California 01350 Small Chamber Emissions Test, and to contain less than 5 grams VOC per liter, even after tinting with specified colorants.” (source)
GreenGuard Gold
GreenGuard Gold tests for VOC emissions only. Certification ensures that products don’t contain specific chemicals at levels that exceed their standard. It doesn’t prohibit the use of these chemicals but rather ensures that are not present in levels considered to be harmful.
The Healthy Building Network has a detailed comparison chart of several different certifications and regulations but note that the Green Wise and Green Wise Gold certifications have since added APEs to their list of restricted chemicals.
How to Find Out What Ingredients Are in Paint.
The best place to start when trying to find out information about a particular paint is to look for a Health Product Declaration (HDP). This is a standard specification designed to disclose product contents and health information in a clear and consistent format. Participation in this program is voluntary for manufacturers of building products. You can use this database to look up a product or ask the manufacturer if they provide one.
The Declare program, from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is another good source of information. It is a fee-based, voluntary program that allows building supply manufacturers to create Declare labels that provide full transparency of ingredients, along with other information about emissions standards and compliance with other ILFI programs. View the database here.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS), available directly from manufacturers, are more universally available and will provide some information about product content, but they are typically more limited and less transparent than an HDP or Declare Label.
Recommended Paint Products
The following is a list of recommended interior paint products. They don’t contain APE’s, don’t use added antimicrobials beyond what is needed for preservation, meet zero VOC limits including colorants (<5g/l) and either have Green Seal – 11 or Green Wise Gold certification or are free of the restricted chemicals outlined in these programs.
Some of these paint brands are from specialty manufacturers with product lines formulated specifically to minimize the use of chemicals that are harmful to people and the environment. Some are from conventional manufacturers who have created a “green” line that uses less harmful chemicals than their other product lines.
If you are sensitive to odors, it is best to sample any paint product, including those listed here, before applying. Everyone is different and what is tolerable to one person may not be to another.
Milk Paint
Milk paint is traditionally made from milk casein, lime, natural pigment, and clay, with no synthetic ingredients. There are several brands of milk paint, but many contain not-so-safe additives. Milkpaint.com and realmilkpaint.com are two brands that use traditional ingredients and with no synthetic additives. They are the only paints on the list with no preservatives because they come in powder form and are mixed with water before use. These are the safest paints, but they have a different look and may need experience to apply properly. For extra durability you can add oil, wax or a non-toxic topcoat but make sure to choose a product that doesn’t add to the VOC content. Milk paint is not suitable for high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Cost per gallon: $60
AFM Safecoat Interior Paint
This is a specialty paint that is formulated to not irritate or be a problem for people with allergies or chemical sensitivities or to contribute to indoor air pollution. AFM Safecoat is not Green Seal-11 certified but they do not include any of the restricted chemicals from this program. They don’t contain ammonia or acetone, which are exempt VOCs, or biocides or fungicides. Samples are available for purchase.
Cost per gallon: $59-$65. Available at the Green Design Center.
Ecos Interior Paints
This is a specialty paint formulated to avoid the chemicals typically found in paint that make people feel ill. It was developed with people with chemical sensitivities in mind. They provide Declare Labels which disclose all ingredients (eggshell, matte, semi-gloss). They don’t contain ammonia or acetone, which are exempt VOCs, or biocides or fungicides. Samples sizes are available for purchase.
Cost per gallon: $70-$85. Available at Ecospaints.net.
BioShield
This is a specialty paint manufacturer that makes paints with mostly natural materials and minimal synthetic ingredients. They have two lines of interior paint. Their Clay Paints are made with naturally occurring clays and create the look of adobe plaster. They require some practice to apply and are not suited to frequent cleanings so may not be a good choice for high traffic areas without a topcoat. They also have a Solvent Free Wall Paint line that is more washable. These paints don’t contain ammonia or acetone, which are exempt VOCs, or biocides or fungicides. Pint sizes are available for purchase if you want to sample prior to use.
Cost per gallon: $42-$60. Available at Bioshieldpaint.com.
Eco Spec by Benjamin Moore
This is a conventional paint brand that is Green Seal –11 certified. It is the only Benjamin Moore line with this certification. The Natura line, which was previously BM’s “greenest” paint, was discontinued on March 1, 2021. Eco Spec has a longer list of ingredients than most of the specialty paints, but it meets the stringent Green Seal – 11 standards. Other BM lines such as Ultra Spec 500, Aura, Regal Select, and ben are zero or low VOC but don’t meet these standards. Samples are available for purchase.
Cost per gallon: $40. Available at local hardware and paint supply stores.
Spartazero by Dunn Edwards
This is a conventional paint that is Green Wise Gold certified. Dunn Edwards has another line called Spartawall that is Green Wise certified but not Green Wise “Gold” certified.
Cost per gallon: $50. Available at local hardware or paint stores.
Everest by Dunn Edwards
This is a conventional paint that is Green Wise Gold certified. It has a 100% acrylic binder.
Cost per gallon: $50-$60. Available at local hardware or paint stores.
Additional Reading
How to Minimize Odor and Off-Gassing From Paint
Why I Don’t Recommend Bake-Outs
Disclaimer: Paint recommendations are based on information that has been provided by the manufacturers. I recommend verifying the information as formulas can change.
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