There are two types of “green” paint. First, there’s what’s called a low, or zero VOC paint, which is considered environmentally friendly on an outdoor level. Then, there’s paint that is environment-friendly, meaning healthier for the indoor occupants. Low/zero VOC paint is quite common throughout the industry now, but has sparked a great deal of discussion about its level of “green.” Although these paints have little or none of the regulated VOC’s than could potentially create smog, they are not particularly well suited to those who suffer from chemical sensitivities, or therefore, any humans in general. These products still contain countless toxins and carcinogens such as acetone, ammonia, crystalline silica and formaldehyde precursors. We all know that formaldehyde was taken out of paint years ago. However, manufacturers have decided to use formaldehyde precursors to allow the paint to develop formaldehyde during the curing process, thus creating a paint that is formaldehyde free in the can. Tricky, yes, but still legal.

Most of the companies haven't gone far enough because the regulations don't force them to. The buzzword in the business right now is "VOCs," which stands for volatile organic compounds. The EPA has established guidelines under which manufacturers list the percentage of VOCs in their products.

VOCs are defined basically as chemicals that when released into the atmosphere, can mix with nitrous oxide and produce ozone and smog. There are toxic chemicals that off-gas in the home but that don't count as VOCs under these guidelines.

Two major toxic offenders, acetone and ammonia, are highly volatile, highly toxic, but they're not counted as VOCs because they don't make smog. People often think that zero VOCs translates into “non-toxic”, but that's not necessarily true. That's why it's important to do your own research and not just rely upon product labels. People with chemical sensitivity often serve as a canary in the coal mine. They sometimes react to products touted as zero VOCs or “non-toxic”.

An indoor environment-friendly and healthy paint – like AFM Safecoat - is one which is manufactured without the use of any regulated or unregulated health hazards or toxins, formaldehyde precursors and is formulated to not outgas. Most paints outgas for several years, but the healthier ones will not. These paints are typically tolerable for about 98% of the most chemically sensitive individuals who use it. If these canaries in the mineshaft can live with it, it must be better for everyone.

A Tokyo school board faced unhappy parents and negative publicity after re-painting an elementary school.  As a result of the remodeling, a student became sick and was diagnosed as chemically sensitive.  The student was forced to stay out of the school for several months while they searched for a solution.

In response to pressure from the parents and a non-profit group working to stop "sick building syndrome" in schools, the local governors and the committee of education sought many potential solutions without success.  Finally, they agreed to repaint with AFM Safecoat products to try to block the offensive offgassing from the standard paint they had used before.  The walls of the school were coated with Safecoat Eggshell and Safecoat Flat, and Safecoat Polyureseal BP was applied to the wooden flooring.

The results were dramatic.  The ill student can enter into the classrooms and walk about the corridors that are coated with Safecoat and has returned to school.  Parents are happy, and Safecoat is now being recommended to other Tokyo schools with chemically sensitive pupils.

Sapporo City Schools

Soon after completion of construction at the Sapporo Asahigaoka High School in Japan, several students reported symptoms of nausea, dizziness and headaches. Two were actually admitted to the local hospital. School officials were at first baffled, as they had specified supposedly “environmental” products, but it was soon determined that a significant amount of chemical offgassing was continuing in the classrooms.

School officials decided to test several products, including Safecoat, to see if they could avoid this problem in the future. It turned out the affected pupils reacted to all of these products except Safecoat, which was then used to repaint the school. The Japanese television network NHK picked up on the story and interviewed one of the student’s mothers, who said “the school has decided to use the Safecoat product and for that I’m grateful. My son has been attending classes without the fear of reacting to chemicals and is enjoying school again.”