Just because a paint is labeled “Low VOC” or “Low Odor” doesn't make it green or healthy.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) form a category of hundreds of chemicals.

They bring “new car smell”, “new paint smell”, and other familiar odors. When VOCs react with air and sunlight they form ozone (smog), so the EPA regulates it. Therefore, products can specifically get to a defined threshold and be labeled “low VOC”.

However, VOCs aren't the only chemicals you want to avoid. Other unregulated and exempted chemicals (sometimes referred to as chemicals of concern) to be aware of:

• Acetone—a colorless mobile flammable liquid solvent; the active ingredient in nail polish remover and superglue remover
• Ammonia
• Crystalline silica
• Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen
• Formaldehyde precursors—chemicals that create formaldehyde through a chemical reaction once they enter the atmosphere

And many low-odor paints simply contain masking agents to hide the odor.

And then, there is the colorant. It's not just the paint base you want to be healthy.

Our colorants have zero VOCs and zero Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APE). APEs are surfactants (detergents) which can be:

• Oestrogenic—hormone disrupting
• Bioaccumulative in the environment—meaning they don't break down and increase concentration up the food chain.