Many homeowners like to take advantage of the summer months to make home improvements. Painting is one the most popular projects, but considering that interior and exterior walls make up one of the largest surface areas of your home, is the paint you use harmful to your health, the air quality of your home, or the environment at large? Is there a way to minimize the effects of chemical emissions?
What is VOC paint, low VOC paint, and no-VOC paint?
That distinctive smell of fresh paint is mostly due to VOCs, which stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. Volatile means the paint contains chemical solvents that have a low boiling point and evaporate at room temperature, and organic means the chemicals are carbon based. These compounds help paint glide on smoothly and dry (relatively) quickly. But when paint dries, it “off-gasses” chemicals into the air, which displaces oxygen and can trigger headaches, dizziness, and respiratory symptoms when inhaled.
VOCs are found everywhere, not just in paint. Many types of flooring, carpeting, and mattresses release VOCs, as do gasoline, gas stoves, gas grills, PERC chemical type dry cleaning, some cosmetics, and many other consumer goods. The off-gassing of some VOCs can linger for days, months or even years. Studies show that only about 50% of VOCs are released from paint within the first year.
Standard paint releases high levels of VOCS that react with sunlight and create ozone and smog, compared to zero-VOC options, which dramatically reduce those emissions. Traditional paint is also categorized as household hazardous waste because of the chemicals that can go into the air or leach into groundwater and cause harm to ecosystems.
What chemicals are in VOC paint?
There are several chemicals in VOC paint that can lead to poor air quality or adverse health effects. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the effects of VOCs are about two to five times higher indoors than outdoors. When VOCs escape into the atmosphere, they react with sunlight to form ground-level smog. Here are common chemicals in VOC and their health effects according to the EPA:
- Formaldehyde: a preservative and resin that is a known carcinogen.
- Benzene: a petroleum-based solvent found in spray paints and cabinet finishes. It can linger in the home and affect immune systems over time. It is a well-known human carcinogen.
- Toluene & Xylene: common solvents for paints, paint thinners, and lacquers that coat easily and leave a smooth finish but are linked to neurological and central nervous system damage. Exposure to toluene can cause headaches, dizziness, and sleepiness, while long-term exposure can cause muscle weakness, brain damage, and impaired speech. Prolonged exposure can cause lung and liver problems in pets.
- Glycol Ethers: solvents often used in water-based paints that can cause mild headaches and irritation.
- Acetaldehyde: a volatile compound heavily associated with respiratory irritation and potential carcinogenic risks.
- Methylene Chloride: a chemical primarily found in paint strippers and sometimes aerosol coatings that can convert to carbon monoxide in the body.
How to alleviate exposure to VOCs
- Select low-VOC paint, which isn’t 100% VOC free but contains less than 50g/l VOC. Even better, select No-VOC or Zero-VOC paint, which contains even fewer VOCs -- less than 5g/l.
- Under rules primarily established under the Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970, the EPA heavily regulates the amount of VOCs in paint and coating formulations in order to reduce ozone formation and outdoor smog. California was the first state to push for more stringent regulations under its own air resources board (CARB), and other states have followed our example. However, while the EPA regulates or bans VOC paints that contribute to photochemical smog, the agency does not regulate household products for indoor air quality or mandate indoor safety standards for them. CARB regulations allow many paint types to exceed the 50 g/l limit that's defined for "Low VOC" paints. Paints labeled as no-VOC or low-VOC may still contain toxic elements.
- Read product labels to make sure it doesn’t contain extra additives or solvents that contain hidden toxic chemicals.
- If toxicity is your most significant concern, don’t just rely on “zero-VOC” labels. Instead, look for certifications and labels that indicate paint is truly eco-friendly and natural (e.g. milk paint), non-toxic, zero-chemical, plant-based, or mineral-based instead of synthetic. These specialty paints can be harder to find, and you may have to order them online from alternative paint companies.
- Wear protective gear like masks and gloves when painting.
- Increase ventilation while painting, especially in the first 24 to 72 hours, even with no-VOC paint. Open doors and windows to keep air flowing. Use fans to expel air outdoors.
- Use air purifiers.
- Avoid freshly painted rooms as much as possible until smell has dissipated.
Are there any downsides to Low-VOC or No-VOC paint?
- Low and No-VOC can take longer to dry.
- No-VOC paint may lack volatile solvents but still contain trace toxins like formaldehyde and ammonia, heavy metals in pigments, and petroleum-derived chemical additives.
- While base paint may be no or low-VOC, check if VOCs are present in the tints and colorants that are added in at the paint store.
- Low and no-VOC paint can wear out more quickly and paint surfaces may require an extra coat or need to be repainted more often.
- To be safe, discard any type of unused paint and paint cans at hazardous waste drop-off stations.
- If you want to be super environmentally friendly, check out the Reuse Room for free leftover paint at Central San's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. Partially used cans of VOC-free paint are great for small projects.
- Low or no-VOC paints can be a bit harder to find and are usually more expensive because they are made with higher quality ingredients, but leading brands like Benjamin Moore Eco Spec, Sherwin-Williams Harmony, ECOS Paints, and Behr Premium Plus minimize HAPs (hazardous air pollutants) while maintaining durability and color selection. Check out this list of Best Low or No-VOC Paints for 2026.
Whether you're a DIY painter or hiring a contractor, avoiding toxic chemicals, especially where children, pregnant moms, pets, and individuals with health concerns are involved, is the safer choice and better for the environment.
Sources and Further Reading:
Photo by Taelynn Christopher on Unsplash
https://www.healthierhomes.com/post/what-are-vocs-in-paint
https://www.thespruce.com/low-voc-paint-and-no-voc-paint-1976533
https://www.lowes.com/n/buying-guide/voc-paint-vs-no-voc-paint
https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/eco-friendly-paints-for-your-home/
https://dlpaintingsacramento.com/blog/california-voc-regulations/
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