The lowdown on low-VOC paints
Having a low level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has emerged as a selling point for paint. But in Consumer Reports recent tests of interior paints, the performance results for low-VOC paints were mixed.
WHAT ARE VOCS?
VOCs are solvents in paint that get released into the air as you use the finish. They can cause headaches, dizziness, and other acute symptoms. The long-term effects are less certain, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some VOCs used in paints are known or suspected carcinogens.
To help curb ozone pollution, the federal government caps the VOC content of paint at 250 grams per liter (g/l) for flat finishes and 380 g/l for others. However, some manufacturers comply with the tougher VOC limits set by California's regional South Coast Air Quality Management District.
LOW-VOC PAINT PERFORMANCE
The knock against the first low-VOC paints on the market was that they lacked the durability and the sheen selection of higher-VOC finishes. (No zero-VOC paints we tested most recently were highly rated.) But companies now make top-quality lower-VOC paint. High-scoring Benjamin Moore Aura, True Value Easy Care, and Glidden Evermore low-luster products contain less than 50 g/l of VOCs. Look for the VOC level on cans.
Get our complete ratings and recommendations for interior paints (full report available to subscribers) and learn more about VOCs by reading, What are VOCs in paint, and is more or less of them better?
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