Add your voice to fighting toxic VOCs

Picked no-VOC paints for your health and home air quality? Then ask California to regulate VOCs in common products.

Thu, Sep 17 2009 at 1:16 PM

Related Topics:

Clean Air, Environmental Regulation, Toxins & Chemicals, VOCs

If you stuck to low or no-VOC paints when sprucing up your eco-friendly home, here’s your chance to take your environmental activism beyond the house. California’s looking into reducing VOCs from consumer and industrial multipurpose solvents and paint thinners — and you can add your voice to support this regulatory measure.

First, about VOCs — or volatile organic compounds. As most MNN readers know, VOCs are found in paints, solvents and all sorts of products — that create smog-forming emissions and cause a whole host of health problems, such as:

Eye, nose and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. Key signs or symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs include conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, declines in serum cholinesterase levels, nausea, emesis, epistaxis, fatigue, dizziness.

That scary list of health effects comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency! That’s why California Air Resources Board (CARB) will look into regulating both VOCs, as well as 3 other other harmful chemicals — perchloroethylene, methylene chloride and trichloroethylene — in solvents and thinners.

CARB takes up this issue on Thurs., Sept. 24 — which is why the environmental nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air is urging people to send CARB comments by noon on Wed., Sept. 23. Visit CCA’s site to learn more about the VOC issue — and to send a letter to Mary Nichols, chairman of the California Air Resources Board.

Photo by ammanteufel

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

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Comment: 1

Phedra Sims Dec 16 2009 at 2:37 PM

EXCELLENT blog!! People are sooooo unaware of the dangers of VOCs and what is even more amazing, besides the EPA listing it as one of the top five health concerns facing us today, it is mostly ignored. Cancer and liver problems are only two of the potential effects of VOC exposure. Great ideas in your blog - my suggestion is to also use LOTS of house plants to freshen the air. HEPA filters if possible and PCO lighting such as WellnessLight Kids to fight airborne problems - all proven methods

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to keep your air clean and your family safe! Thanks again!! :)