What are VOCs and if I buy a low VOC paint can I be sure it is not harmful to use?
Volatile organic compounds are carbon based chemical compounds found in most paints. VOCs are harmful to health, the environment and contribute to global warming. It is now a legal requirement for paint labelling to state the VOC content of the product and although EU legislation restricts VOC content of paints it does not prohibit their use. Most solvents contain high levels of VOCs and therefore solvent based paints (most gloss paints and many eggshells) will normally have high a VOC content. However most water born paints also contain VOCs.. Earthborn paints do not contain VOCs. It is important to remember that not all paints declaring low or zero VOC content are the same and that unlike Earthborn paints, other paints can (and normally do) contain other ‘nasties’ such as acrylic softeners, ammonia or formaldehydes.
