Title: Dangers of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) in Paint
Headings: Should I Avoid VOC-Containing Paint?
Should I Avoid VOC-Containing Paint?
What Are the Risks?
Warning
Avoiding VOCs and "Green" Paints
Should I Buy Eco-Friendly Paints?
Where to Buy VOC-Free Paints

Content: Even an occasional painting project can increase your risk of physical problems. Levels of VOCs inside your house can increase up to 1,000 times after doing something like painting or paint stripping. Paint and paint products, in fact, are the second-largest source of VOCs after cars. The VOCs in paint can seriously affect the indoor air quality of even a well-ventilated home or office, and they're a major cause of "sick building syndrome." Avoiding VOCs and "Green" Paints
First of all, follow all the manufacturer's recommendations regarding safe paint use. Paint only in well-ventilated areas, for example, and keep paint and paint products away from children and pets. And look for paints that are no- or low-VOCs . Lots of manufacturers are now claiming to make eco-friendly paint, but some of these claims are dubious and may be just greenwashing. For paint to actually call itself "low-VOC," the EPA requires that it have no more than 250 grams per liter (g/l) of VOCs for flat and latex paint--oil-based paints can have up to 380 g/l. ( Some places, like California, have even stricter standards.)