Month: November 2020

Environmentally Safe Paints at Home

Solvents from common paints are getting into the environment and I am certain we would all wish this could be prevented. Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs are finding their way into the air. This may lead to many adverse effects; for one, it can cause the ozone to deplete, it can add to the issue of smog and likewise the big one; it can add to global warming. As people become more conscious of the issues posed by global warming, other options to regular paints are being sought. Eco-friendly paints were in fact introduced to the market back in the 90s, but they were not popular at all and they failed to make any impact.

Dangers of Paint

Because consumers are now becoming conscious of the environmental issues, will eco-friendly paints become more sought after? Those who are painting pros need to be converted. The paint pros keep on saying paints that don’t contain the volatile organic compounds aren’t as good as paints that contain them, even if the marketers are stating the opposite. These professionals likewise assert that these eco-friendly paints also require additional coats to get the same finish as regular paints and that they don’t have a long life. The paint industry should consider the health concerns relating to VOCs, including breathing problems like asthma, and that consumers are choosing eco-friendly paints.

Waterbased Paint

A resolution to the problem is to make use of latex paints that are water-based, containing acrylic resin which acts as a binder. Due to the fact that VOCs are absent, it means they are environmentally safe. The water-based attribute of latex paint means that painting on iron is a problem because of rusting. Nevertheless, customers are turning more often to latex paints.

So for us to consider paint as eco friendly, we have to know its contents and how it was manufactured. For example, Titanium Dioxide is commonly used in many paints because of its white color, which means it is is able to cover other paints. Titanium Dioxide is prepared using a couple of processes that result in weak sulfuric acid being produced. The way the acid is discharged is environmentally harmful as the sea is its ultimate destination.

Smog can be the by product of Titanium Dioxide reacting with the sun when used externally. The reality that carcinogens may induce cancer is a concern due to a link with Titanium Dioxide. Although these issues are well-known Titanium Dioxide nevertheless continues to be widely used in paints.

People are starting to use environmentally friendly paints now that they are learning more about the health and environmental effects of normal paints.