Breathe Easier at home with VOC free paint

I talk about the importance of eating whole food free of chemicals, dyes and toxins  in about 90% of my posts. Food is not the only place toxins come from, they are all around us and especially in our homes.  Many of you have asked about the progress we are making on our new home, that we moved into over the winter. Until very recently my answer was not much. We've spent a ton of time cleaning everything and also reclaiming the yard to get our organic garden growing in time. Other than unpacking, not much progress had been made indoors.  Until my home is very bright and colorful it just doesn't feel finished to me yet. We had to delay painting when we first moved back in December because it posed two main problems:
1) if you paint when its too cold the paint get air bubbles trapped in it

2) you can't open a window for fresh air in so yo get all fuzzy headed from the fumes and feel like you need a gas mask.

We got some basic painting done with the use of some extra space heaters. Now that the warm weather is here, we're painting like crazy.  As far as the euphoria  & nausea created by  fresh paint fumes, we had none because we discovered VOC free paint.

VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, a fancy term to describe chemicals that leak out of solids and liquids in the form of a gas. When you hear articles in the media about carpets or paints off-gassing, the VOC's are the primary culprits they are talking about.  The most common places you find it in our home are in new wallcoverings, furniture such as matresses, carpeting and most predominately in your wall paint.

In extreme cases exposure to too many  toxic VOC's can lead to symptoms such as sensory irritation of the eyes, nose, throat; neurotoxic or general health problems; skin irritation; nonspecific hypersensitivity reactions; and odor and taste sensations. This is known as sick building syndrome.  People with allergy concerns, especially those suffering from asthma tend to be the most affected.  

The way I see it, being surrounded by too many toxic chemicals is never a good thing so I choose to use VOC free paint.  I 've tried several and Olympic brand is very inexpensive compared to its competition and i like the selection of colors too.  It actually makes painting much more pleasant, there is no strong paint smell hanging in the air for days, actually not even while you're painting. You an start combating indoor air pollution by making sure there are plenty of nature's air filters,  plants, in your home and good ventilation. You can also help reduce VOC's in your home with a few easy practices, courtesy of Gaiam. com:

Formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds are guests that have worn out their welcome.

Our indoor environment is often far from pristine places. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates people spend as much as 90 percent of their time inside, mostly in their homes. You work hard to create a sense of comfort and peace in your everyday spaces. Shouldn't you also decorate with health and quality of life in mind?

Eliminating the hazardous chemicals found in traditional household cleaners is a great start. But you and your family may also be cozying up to hidden toxins lurking on walls, under the couch cushions and beneath your feet. These chemical concoctions off-gas for years into indoor air, potentially impacting your long-term health.

1. Find Formaldehyde-Free Furniture

Most people don't think of their furniture when assessing their indoor air quality, but if yours is made from treated wood or particle board, it probably contains formaldehyde, the same chemical used in funeral homes as a preserving agent. A study by the California Environmental Protection Agency says indoor levels of formaldehyde are typically several times higher than outdoor levels.

Formaldehyde was recently classified a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization. And according to the American Lung Association, short-term effects of exposure to formaldehyde vapors include eye, nose and throat irritation as well as coughing, skin rashes, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and nosebleeds.

If you're planning to remodel your kitchen, choose cabinets made from solid, untreated wood. And phase out your particle-board furniture, such as shelving and office desks, with pieces made of natural materials such as hardwood, rattan and iron.

2. Stop Sleeping with Chemicals

You've heard that you spend approximately a third of your life in bed. That's roughly 25 years in this one room in your house.

Most mattresses contain considerable amounts of synthetic and chemical-based foams, plastics and artificial fibers, and most box springs are made with chemically treated wood and chemical adhesives. Next time you buy a mattress consider one made from more health-conscious materials, such as natural fibers and untreated wood. In the meantime, a mattress cover made of barrier cloth can help isolate a chemical-laden mattress.
Also consider that most bed sheets are made from cotton, a crop that takes 25 percent of the world's pesticides to grow by today's common agricultural methods. And most conventional sheets have a formaldehyde-resin finish to make them "easy care" and/or water-resistant, and to reduce shrinkage. Use organic sheets made from natural fibers — organic cotton is readily available in a wide range of styles and colors from low-impact dyes.

3. Change Your Paint Color Along with VOC Levels

You know that new paint smell? It usually has something to do with the chemicals added to paint to improve spreadability and durability. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) evaporate at room temperature and can damage the kidneys, liver and central nervous system, according to the EPA. While the paint is drying, VOC levels can be up to 1,000 times outdoor levels, and VOCs will continue to off-gas at much lower levels after the paint dries.

When shopping for paint, look for one that contains VOC levels of 150 grams per liter or lower, advises Mother Earth News magazine. Or, better yet, choose from the growing selection of no-VOC paints.

4. Walk Away from Synthetic Carpets

VOCs don't just come from your walls; they can also come from your wall-to-wall carpeting. The American Lung Association says new carpet — as well as the adhesives and padding used during installation — can be a source of VOC emissions and act as a "sponge" for chemical and biological pollutants. For example, pesticides used on lawns can be tracked inside your home and remain inside the carpet fibers.

Leave your shoes at the door and opt for natural flooring such as sustainably harvested hardwood, bamboo, cork or tile, and no-emission carpeting of natural fibers such as sisal or wool.

All of these simple changes improve the quality of your indoor environment — as well as the environment outside. Sustainably harvested natural materials are gentler to the planet and can actually help promote healthier ecosystems, so you'll help clean your surroundings outside your home, too.