It is a troubling thought that solvents coming from paints in normal use are emitted into the atmosphere and is not something we would truly want to happen. What they give off are chemical substances called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and these end up in the the Earth’s atmosphere. This can cause several ill effects; for example, it can cause the ozone to deplete, it can contribute to the issue of smog and likewise the big one; it can contribute towards global warming. Global warming issues mean that people are attempting to look more alternatives in their choice of paints. The initial popularity of eco friendly paints failed to impress when they first made an entry to the market during the 1990s.
Since consumers are now becoming aware of the environmental issues, will eco friendly paints be more widely chosen? People who are experts in painting need to be converted. The paint pros go on on saying paints that don’t contain the volatile organic compounds aren’t as good as paints that contain them, even if the manufacturers state the opposite. These professionals also maintain that these green paints also need additional coats to get the same finish as regular paints, and that they are not long lasting. The paint industry must consider the health problems pertaining to VOCs, including breathing complaints like asthma and that people are choosing environmentally safe paints.
Latex paint which is water based could be the solution to this issue. They are believed to be Earth friendly and being water based contain no VCOs. If plan to paint iron, this is a problem with water based latex paint as rust is going to come about much faster. Latex paints, despite their downsides, are becoming increasingly sought after.
When we say ‘environmentally friendly paints’, we don’t merely mean the paint itself is safe for the environment, but also the procedure in which the paint was created or how the ingredients were obtained. There are some paints that contain Titanium Dioxide which can conceal other paints as it is extremely white in color. Manufacturing Titanium Dioxide may trigger the production of sulfuric acid. The environment is negatively affected as the acid is discarded into a body of water.
Titanium Dioxide can cause smog when exposed to the sun, which is another serious worry. Furthermore, Titanium Dioxide has been linked to a carcinogen found to cause cancer in humans. Despite all of this, paints still contain Titanium Dioxide.
People are beginning to use eco friendly paints now that they are finding out more about the health and environmental implications of regular paints.