Paint can be harmfull to you and the environment

House paint contains a cocktail of chemicals which become permanent residents in your home once spread all over your walls. That strong and pungent odour is indicative of what is being added to the air in you house. These chemicals, called volatile organic compounds (VOC) continue to be released into your home long after the initial smell has disappeared. VOC fumes can cause headaches, dizziness, as well as irritate the eyes, nose and throat.

Many of these chemicals are added to paint to improve spread-ability and coverage, help brighten colours, speed drying time and to prevent fungus growth. Though helpful, industry experts say VOCs are by no means necessary.

VOCs can be up to ten times more concentrated indoors than outdoors, in both rural and industrial locations. VOCs contribute significantly to outdoor air pollution as well. VOCs are released in the highest concentrations during paint application, and will continue to emit harmful fumes for years afterwards.

Newer paint formulations are considered less hazardous to health and several major paint manufacturers are beginning to offer low-VOC or even zero-VOC brands of house paint. However some of those paints will contain chemicals to which some people are sensitive, even though they carry the low VOC sign on their labels.

In an interview with Newsday, Gerrard Moore, Director of West Indian Distributors Company, sole distributors of Benjamin Moore paints in Trinidad, said a big advantage of the Benjamin Moore brand of paint is that it is "totally environmentally friendly."

"Benjamin Moore paints have low VOCs, no lead, no mercury and it is totally water thin-able. Also, the brand is odourless. There are people who like the smell paint which is unhealthy, but technology is such that with the Benjamin Moore brand, you can paint in the morning and occupy the room in a couple hours. There are no unhealthy fumes to inhale," Moore said. He also noted the paint cause no chemical reaction and meets the strictest industry standards.

Another brand of paint available on local markets which offers a "green" product is Sherwin-Williams. This brand has several eco-friendly products which are sold under their GreenSure Initiative which seeks to provide products that reduce the negative impact on the environment.

The Penta brand of paints, has also committed itself to providing an environmentally friendly product. According to Darryl Traboulay, Penta's Quality Champion, Penta is environmentally friendly and all its decorative products contain no lead or mercury. "Penta is committed to complying with the provisions of the OSHA 2004 Act and any other government laws and regulations aimed at ensuring worker safety and protecting the environment," Traboulay said.

Newsday was unable to get comments from officials of other local brands.

According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), homes built before 1978 were painted with lead based paint. This paint is dangerous when it flakes, peels or creates dust. Lead is added to paint to speed drying, increase durability, retain a fresh appearance, and resist moisture that causes corrosion. It is a silver-grey metal that occurs naturally and has long been known as a neurotoxin, a substance that adversely affects the central nervous system even at low levels of exposure.

The Trinidad and Tobago government on the recommendation of the EMA and several other agencies took a decision in 2004 to stop the sale of lead based products.

Many countries have implemented legislation to prevent lead being added to paint intended for domestic use, but the practice continues in some countries. Lead paint may still be found in older properties painted prior to the introduction of such regulation.

Tips in choosing eco friendly paint:

* Know that low-VOC and zero-VOC paints must meet standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Low-VOC paints can have 200 grams of volatile compound per litre at most. Paints with less than five grams per liter are considered to be zero-VOC products.

* Understand that VOCs can be eliminated altogether if natural interior paints are used. Natural paints often incorporate plant dyes and minerals. For example, clay paint is made from minerals and water. However, the colour selection for clay paints may be limited, and walls painted with them can't be washed if they get dirty; they must be repainted.

* Look for eco-friendly paints that meet Green Seal standards. Green Seal is a nonprofit organisation that concentrates on improving environmental standards for many products, and it has developed a certification process for eco-friendly paints. Green Seal lists certified products and services on their website.