BUCKS COUNTY WOMAN
A GREENER BUCKS
Four years ago thoughts about my health “Paints don’t have to be dangerous to Many paints now carry a certification
weren’t foremost when it was time to be the best,” says Bill Stevens, owner from Green Seal, a non-profit
paint my home. Then it was all about of Ethos: Healthy Paints and Wall organization dedicated to improving
color. After living in a place surrounded Coverings, a new shop in Buckingham environmental standards for paint and
by sterile all-white walls, anything with tint Green in Buckingham, which sells other products. Visit www.greenseal.org/
was a welcome change. But today I’d exclusively Mythic paint products, one of findaproduct/paints-coatings.cfm to learn
look at other factors besides hue. the few zero-VOC paints on the market. more about their guidelines.
“We wanted to create a sustainable and
If you’re like a growing number of us,
eco-friendly business because we believe
Ongoing emissions are known as
the health of your family and of our
people are evolving and understanding
off-gassing, and can increase the VOC
shared environment plays more than a
how the individual can have an impact
level inside a house up to 1,000 percent
minor role in many decisions we once
on the greater society,” he says. He’s
higher than acceptable right after
took for granted, like painting. There may
had a passion for the environment for
fresh paint has been applied. Initially,
be toxins hiding in that can of eggshell
years, and started Ethos with his father
regulations of these VOCs were confined
and it would be best for all of us if we
and brother who also own Parable
to exterior uses, and how they contributed
could minimize their use.
Painting, based in Silverdale.
to smog, which is ground level ozone. As
much as 9 percent of pollutants adding to
That familiar fresh-paint smell assaults
that smog come from exterior paint.
more than just your nose. It’s toxic to your
lungs, skin, kidneys, liver and central Kim Burton of Newtown bases most
nervous system. That odor is caused by of her consumer decisions around
VOCs or volatile organic compounds—
Educating yourself is a
environmental sensitivity: “We had made
organic chemical compounds that enter
the atmosphere. They exude gases that
good first step. Browse
a decision years ago to live as naturally
as possible; to be more eco friendly with
can irritate your eyes, cause headaches
these websites for more
every step we take, from light bulbs to
and fatigue and may even cause cancer.
Not only emitted as the paint is being
information on alternatives
food, so searching for safer paint for our
new house was just a normal extension of
applied, low-level toxic chemicals can be
to painting with VOC-laden
that decision. I never looked at paint labels
exuded for years—maybe even longer
than that paint job!
paint and other green tips:
over the years, but when I started to read
them, it was a real education. “This is the
first time I ever painted a room and didn’t
VOCs include biocides and fungicides,
get a headache,” she adds.
which help alleviate fungus and mold,
www.buildinggreen.com
and formaldehyde, classified by the Clay-based and milk-based paints are
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health www.greenhomeguide.org other options, although clay dries a shade
Association as a carcinogen. Sick- lighter and paints made with milk may
building syndrome — where sufferers are
www.thegreenguide.com
have an odor that is unpleasant for some.
acutely uncomfortable while in the house
or office and then feel better when they
www.treehugger.com
When you make the decision to be health-
leave the building — is blamed on the
use of VOCs. These compounds also
www.igreenbuild.com
and environmentally conscious when
painting your home, you shouldn’t forget
are found in certain carpets, furniture
www.sbnphiladelphia.com
the tools…recycled plastic buckets, metal
and cleaning products.
paint cans, solvent-free tape, and reusable
www.earth911.org
brushes and roller covers are all available.
VOCs were first added to paint to inhibit
mold growth, increase spreadability, www.usgbc.org
And when you’re finished painting,
brighten colors and help paint dry faster.
remember that recycling the empty cans
The first non-toxic paints (those without
www.mythicpaint.com
is important. If there is only a small
chemical solvents) were introduced in the
amount left, pour the paint over cat litter,
1960s, but the quality was subpar, and
www.ethoshealthypaints.com
then throw it away. Or just let the can sit
since environmental and health concerns
open for a few days until the remaining
weren’t as great or well understood then,
paint dries out, then recycle.
there was no great push to continue to
develop and improve them.
If you have a lot of paint remaining
and don’t want to store it, you may
However, with advances made in the
manufacturing process of paints since
“The U.S. Dept. of Environmental Protection
be able to donate to organizations
about 2000, it’s possible to achieve the
has found that the levels of a dozen volatile
like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore
same standards with paints that are
organic compounds are two to five times
(www.habitatbucks.org/restore)
non-toxic and contain few VOCs.
higher indoors than outdoors, depending
that accept donations of used
on the area. Paint is a big contributor to
building supplies.
N
A
The best advice is to shop around and
indoor pollution,” he says. And don’t forget
M
to insist that the colorant added to the base
Story by Brenda Lange O
read labels. Most paint cans carry a
W
warning label. If the can you lift off the
paint also contains low levels of VOCs. “A
few drops of color can add them all back
T
Y
shelf has one, put it right back down.
N
in,” Stevens warns.
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