Low VOC paints

Description

Carbon-containing molecules that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature are referred to as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Low levels of VOCs in paints, adhesives, caulks, carpets, etc. normally makes one think that the material does not off-gas. This is not technically correct. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated a list of volatiles organics compounds that can can lead to eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, damage to the central nervous system, and cancer (see below). To qualify as low-VOC under currently accepted standards, interior paints (or primers or other coatings) has to have fewer than 250 grams per liter, while non-VOC products have less than 5 grams per liter (California Air Resources Board 2022). Most paints that qualify as low-VOC (see table) are latex or water-based. Some smaller companies provide natural, non-toxic options that contain water, plant oils, plant dyes, milk protein, and minerals such as clay.

Manufacturer	Paint line	VOC Emission level*	Paint base	Description	Applications and Working Properties	Collection Risks	Personal Risks	Resources & Citations	Notes:
Benjamin Moore	Aura Interior	1.7	acrylic latex	Designed for smooth, fast application with excellent hide	greater durability so supports easy maintenance even thought price is a bit higher	acetic acid emitter			testing after 2 weeks of dry time
	Eco Spec	0	acrylic latex	Greenest interior paint; quick drying with low emissions	can spray but mixture must be correct or get clumps; softer cure, does not dry completely but passes Oddy testing, fabricators hate using it in display cases, but on walls it may work well (may be harder to touch up in some applications), saturated colors (dark reds or blue/greens) finish tends to be much shiner than expected from gloss level (aesthetic concern since it shows any marring easily)	marketed as only emitting water		Met has tested these, Catherine, 2018, tended to give permanent to P/T.
	Natura	0		replaced March 2021 by Eco Spec		marketed as only emitting water		ask Eric Munroe at LC for testing info	testing after 2 weeks dry time
	Regal Select interior	47.9	acrylic latex	Applies easily and smoothly for a uniform finish,; mildew resistant, low odor
	Ultra Spec 500	0	acrylic copolymer	Professional quality, quick-drying, washable; less expensive	requires frequent repainting, poor durability, may have less hide value	acetic acid emitter			testing after 2 weeks of dry time
	Advance Interior Paint	46.5	waterborne alkyd	Durable high-end finish for doors, trim and cabinetry
	Super Spec p42 Waterborne Epoxy HC-80				application - reproduction corner cabinet used to store silver was coated	coated silver objects in wooden cabinets have not corroded
Golden Paints	Mural Paints	< 50	acrylic latex	Artist grade coating for interior and exterior use with strong opaque colors; increased color vibrancy and workability; great for blending, hard edges or minute details	good opacity and coverage, sheen can be modified for specific surface aesthetics, can be used for inpainting mounts and/or objects	should not have plasticizers, may need more testing prior to use in galleries			softer resin, traditional coalescent, more surfactant to keep things softer, but then use a solid - mineral solid to create durability, abrasion resistence, and hardness
Sherwin Williams	EcoSelect Zero	0	vinyl acrylic	Uniform final appearance with washable surface
	Promar 200 Zero	0	vinyl acrylic	Excellent durability, with anti-microbial agents				LC may have testing results for this product
Benjamin Moore	Floor and Patio	45				aldehydes that could react to degrade objects, acetic acid, too
Matthews				two part system with a catalyst - automotive applications, but best for spray not painting, VOC are often higher with automotive paints
KBS Diamond	clear topcoat			one part system - isocyanate delivered in solvent	High UV resistance, moisture cure so thin application to allow drying, sticky & stinky - hard to handle, when dried forms a very hard surface, very clear		use PPE	https://www.kbs-coatings.com/diamondfinish-clear.html

• Note: These numbers only apply to compounds that are federally designated as VOCs (i.e. harmful to humans). Some volatile compounds that can be harmful to objects (such as acetone) are not in the federal list.

Federally designate VOCs fall into these categories:

Category	Examples
Halomethanes	methyl chloride
Chlorinated ethanes	1,1,1-trichloroethanol
Aromatic solvents	benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene
Polynuclear aromatics	naphthalene
Chlorobenzenes	1,2-dichlorobenzene
Phthalate esters	plasticizers, pesticides
Others	formaldehyde, PCBs

Specifically exempted compounds include: acetone, carbon monoxide, methylene chloride (paint stripper), and perchloroethylene (dry cleaning fluid)

Synonyms and Related Terms

Eco-friendly paints; no VOC; zero VOC

Resources and Citations

• Treehugger: Nine best Zero VOC of 2022 Paints

• California Air Resources Board: Coatings (Accessed April 2022)

• ChemSafety Pro: Federal register 1998