How dangerous are paint fumes?

The smell of a freshly painted room is familiar to most of us. This common odour is caused by chemicals called VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that evaporate from many conventional paints as they dry. At Little Knights, however, we have developed our paint to be as safe as household paint gets. It's antibacterial and 100% VOC free.

But for those who use conventional paint, just how dangerous can the fumes be? There are numerous sources that warn of the potential harmful effects of paint fumes. The British Lung Foundation, for example, warns that studies show that inhaling the VOCs found in paint fumes can exacerbate asthma and allergies. And because the solvents are absorbed into the lungs, then the blood stream, they can also lead to headaches and dizziness.

Indoor air up to ten times more polluted with VOCs

In America the US Environmental Protection Agency has found that concentrations of many VOCs, emitted from paint and other household items, are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. The agency states that the health effects of inhaling VOCs may include: eye, nose and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination and nausea; and damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system.

Fertility problems?

Back in the UK a joint research project between the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield suggested that men regularly exposed to chemicals found in paint may be more prone to fertility problems. The study of 2,000 men attending 14 fertility clinics showed that those with jobs such as painters and decorators were two-and-a-half times more likely to produce fewer "normal" sperm.

"Painter's Syndrome"

Over in Denmark, a series of medical articles have been published which identify a type of dementia nicknamed "painter's syndrome” which is associated with painters and those who are inhaling paint fumes on a regular basis in the course of their job.

Why take the chance?

More research is required in these areas but one thing is clear, there are potentially serious consequences to over exposure to VOCs found in many paints. Why take a chance? With Little Knights you can be assured your paint is 100% VOC-free.