The truth about toxic paints...

As you all know, not all paints are created equally toxic. While some paint companies claim zero VOC to their labeling, the regulations on this are lax, and there are other toxic ingredients in traditional paints that do not contribute to smog, which is really what the EPA considers when measuring VOC content. AFM/Safecoat is a company dedicated to making healthy paints, stains and coatings and has been for almost 30 years. They are not just another paint company that has recently added a "green" paint line to their lines of toxic paint. They are a company making zero VOC AND solvent free paints, coatings and stains formulated specifically for the chemically sensitive. It still boggles my mind why we would coat our inside living surfaces with things that came out of petroleum refineries and glycol, the same thing that we use as antifreeze in our cars.
Read this explanation from AFM/Safecoat on the truth about toxic paints...

"According to the EPA, a volatile organic compound is classified as any carbon-based chemical that is
readily vaporized at room temperature, that can react with nitrogen and UV,
thus creating smog. However, when the EPA created the VOC regs, they gave
specific exemption to several chemicals that are still carbon-based, but do
not react to create smog. Ammonia and butyl acetate are two of the more
common ones. Anyway, when paint companies use these and similar chemicals
in their formulas, they can have the VOC test results show that the paint is
Zero VOC less exempt compounds. Otherwise known as, "Calculated VOC".

The term "odorless paint" actually refers to the process of adding another
set of chemicals to paint to act as masking agents. Some of these
ingredients also act as formaldehyde precursors, which are undetectable in a
liquid state, but actually chemically react to create formaldehyde once the
curing process starts. Keep in mind, odorless mineral spirits is still
mineral spirits! Just because it no longer has the usual solvent smell
doesn’t mean that its no longer dangerous. But for some reason, we humans
have this innate desire to connect the strength of smell to a danger level
or lack thereof.

Regarding the MSDS... An MSDS only has to list hazardous chemicals that make
up more than 1% of the volume of the entire formula. In essence, a paint
company can put in several formaldehyde precursors, chemical masking agents
and biocides, and not have to list any of them because individually they are
less than 1% of the volume. If an ingredient is part of a "proprietary
blend", it doesn't have to be listed either.

For human health concerns, the VOC level of a product is not important. The
TOXICTY of the ingredient, whether its a VOC or not, is important. Oranges
are not regulated, as far as I know. Yet, orange oil is a VOC. Pine trees
are not regulated by the EPA either.

In an effort to sell product, the paint companies are trying to make
everyone think that their zero VOC formulas are safe for humans without
actually coming out and saying it. They use terms like “green” and
“eco-friendly” etc., and we all read into it too much. If you really want
to use a paint that is truly healthier for the occupants, then look into
products that have been used successfully by the chemically sensitive.
These “canaries in the mineshaft” have been able to tolerate AFM Safecoat
paint since it came out almost 30 years ago. AFM lists all of their
ingredients on their data sheets. Yes, it has titanium dioxide in it, as
does all white paint. But, so does toothpaste."

I hope that clears the air so to speak...