With so many toxins in the atmosphere, the least you can do is avoid creating a toxic indoor environment. One way is by exercising caution on the kind of paint you use.
The standard paint contains volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are organic chemicals that are harmful to the body. These compounds have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. They are responsible for drying out the paint when spread on a wall.
Although paint odor is only noticeable for the first few days, it continues to release these VOCs into the air for years, creating a toxic indoor environment. Exposure to VOCs will have long term and short term effects on your health, such as:
- Irritation on the eyes nose, and throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Headaches
- Poor coordination
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Long term health effects for VOCs include liver, kidney, and nervous system damage.
With the emergence of environmentally friendly products and the growing awareness of the effects of VOC, you can find non toxic paint for walls in the market. These paints are healthier alternatives to the standard paint and will have less adverse health effects.
Your concern should not just be on non toxic paint for walls. When installing new flooring or carrying out maintenance activities such as protecting hardwood floors, consider the safety of the paint and materials you as well. Opt for VOC-free products. But for flooring that is over a year old, most of the VOCs will have already dissipated.
Here are three healthier and safer options to the traditional paints.
1. Low VOC Paint
Paint marked as low VOC come with reduced amounts of the volatile organic compounds. They have less than 250 grams of VOC per liter. They do not emit as much harmful gas as the traditional paints. How low the VOC levels will be will vary among different manufacturers. But the bottom line is that these paints will have lower levels than the standard paint.
2. No VOC Paint
Paints labelled as “no VOC” will have less volatile organic compounds compared to “low VOC paint” and traditional paint. Although the toxic compounds are not absent, they are less in quantity and will have a lower effect than standard paint. They generally have five or fewer grams of VOC per liter of paint.
3. Natural Paint
Natural paint is another excellent choice of a non toxic paint for walls, baby crib, or for painting pregnant mom’s rooms and people with a latex allergy. They are health-focused paints manufactured from natural ingredients free from harmful compounds, chemicals, and heavy metals. Components may comprise of water, resins, milk casein, plant dyes, essential oils, clay, and chalk, among others.
The Advantages of Alternative Sources of Paint
VOC is the primary reason paint has a distinctive smell. And therefore its reduced levels in the more environmental-friendly versions makes it the best paint for baby crib
It also has better paint coverage, which makes it the best non toxic paint for walls. It will dry quickly and provide a durable finishing.
Whether you are thinking of painting the porch or painting concrete floors, this non toxic products will work perfectly on any surface and will come in a variety of colors.
Natural paints are particularly easy to clean since they contain water.
In Summary
The only way to keep your body healthy is by remaining mindful of what gets into it. Not just what you eat, but what you inhale.
Getting a new color on your kitchen walls may sound like a great idea, but it could turn into a health hazard. Traditional paint will fill your indoor environment with dangerous toxins that could harm your body.
Work with a non toxic paint for walls and eco friendly floor paint.
Always look at the packaging of your paint to ensure that the product you buy is “low” or “no” VOC paint. Be careful about the rest of the ingredients as well. Look for the label stating “non-toxic” or “natural,” and you will be safe.
