America’s
homes and garages are full of toxic and hazardous products. Paints,
pesticides, lye, acids, and solvents are examples of the products
that can be dangerous to your family and pollute the environment
when they are thrown away. Many of these items are not even needed.
This fact sheet has been developed to help you make the switch to
safer products and alternatives.
Paint
is big business. Manufacturers distribute over one billion gallons
of paint annually to the tune of $10.7 billion dollars in the United
States alone. While most homeowners have one or more cans of paint
in their garage, few of them recognize the potential health hazards
and environmental toxicity if it is not used, stored and disposed
of correctly.
Water
based paints are considered the safest to use. Paints manufactured
before 1990 may, however, contain mercury, which even at low levels
of exposure can cause neurological damage without noticeable symptoms.
Small percentages of alcohol solvents and glycol ethers are also
found in most water based paints.
Although
the EPA banned the use of lead in oil based paint in 1981, oil based
paints still contain toxicants which can be easily inhaled, ingested
or absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. A few of
the chemicals are known carcinogens, others cause nervous system
depression, and most have not been adequately tested for their long-term
health effects. And, environmentally, the volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) found in oil based solvents contribute to photochemical smog.
Material
Safety Data Sheets are available for paint products and may be helpful
in listing the components of the paint and potential health effects.
You may request a copy from the retail store where you buy paint.
Paints
are composed of resins (film formers), diluents (solvents), pigments
(color), and additives. The paint products category also includes
coatings such as varnish, shellac, polyurethane, and stains. Paints
are generally categorized on the basis of the solvent. The two main
categories are oil based and water based (latex) paints. Depending
on the type of paint selected, other paint related products such
as thinners and brush cleaners may be required. Latex and other
water based paint products are the safest to use, require no organic
solvents, dry quickly, and flow evenly.
Solvents
are liquids that dissolve other substances and act as carriers for
pigments. Useful properties of solvents in paint products are volatility
(fast drying), ease of application, even flow and the ability to
dissolve paint and grease. Oil based paint solvents pose several
immediate and long term health and environmental concerns.
While
the VOC levels in paint products sold in the United States have
been reduced to help control pollution, levels may still be high
enough to pose potential health problems. All organic solvents are
toxic in varying degrees. It is in fact the useful properties of
organic solvents that add to their hazard. Because they are volatile,
there is an inhalation risk; or because they can dissolve many things,
they can be absorbed through the skin. They may cause as minor a
problem as skin rash or, if swallowed, they may be fatal.
To
reduce the risk to your health, select the least toxic product available
for the job.
Least
Toxic: Water based (latex). Check that mercury is not included
as an
additive to prevent mildew.
Moderately
Toxic: Many of these ingredients are found in spray paints, paint
removers
and lacquers. All are highly flammable. methyl
alcohol acetone isopropyl alcohol ethyl
alcohol ethyl acetate methyl ethyl ketone.
Most
Toxic: The following are known as aromatic or chlorinated
hydrocarbons.
They can be absorbed through the skin and therefore
enter the bloodstream more easily than through inhalation
only.
Benzene:
a carcinogen which causes aplastic anemia (damaged
bone marrow), and leukemia, and a probable tetatogen
(causes birth defects).
Toluene:
a probable mutagen (causes inherited changes in gene
structure) and teratogen.
Xylene:
a probable teratogen.
Methylene
Chloride (dichloromethane): a probable carcinogen.
Inhalation of vapors increases carbon monoxide
levels in blood, reducing oxygen supply to vital organs.
Other potential effects include damage to central nervous
system or skin burns. It decompresses in the presence
of flame or heat into highly toxic phosgene gas.
Learn
to recognize the warning signs of exposure to organic solvents so
that you don’t become a victim of poisoning.
Acute
(effects that occur during or immediately after exposure): irritability nervousness depression irregular
heartbeat weakness skin
redness watery eyes dizziness burning sensation dry
throat nausea headaches itching
Long-term
(effects that develop after intense or prolonged exposure):
Chronic
effects from frequent or prolonged exposure to organic solvents
have not been
thoroughly researched. Increased risk from exposure may cause permanent
damage
to liver, kidneys, bone marrow, and central nervous system. |
