Indoor Air Pollution
Did you know that the air inside your home or business can actually be more polluted than the air you breathe outside? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air we breathe indoors can be two to five times dirtier than the air outside and VOCs are largely to blame.
VOCs or volatile organic compounds contain carbon and become a gas at room temperature. VOCs are known to cause many illnesses including cancer. When these carbon compounds interact with sunlight and nitrogen oxides another air pollutant is created: ground level ozone.
Paint is one source of VOCs in your home. The concentrations are highest when the paint is fresh, but even years later VOCs can be off gassing from painted surfaces. The solution: choose low or no VOC paints. Due to consumer demand they are easy to find and often the same price as regular paints. If you're worried about choosing the best low or no VOC paint, look for the green seal. This means the product has been independently tested and rated at the top of its class.
So do your part and choose low or no VOC paints for your health and the air we all breathe.