Environmental

effects of paint

The environmental effects of paint can

vary depending on the type of paint used
and mitigation measures. Traditional
painting materials and processes can have
harmful effects on the environment,
including those from the use of lead and
other additives. Measures can be taken to
reduce its environmental effects, including
accurately estimating paint quantities so
waste is minimized, and use of
environmentally preferred paints, coating,
painting accessories, and techniques.

An assortment of paints

The United States Environmental

Protection Agency guidelines and Green
Star standards can be applied.
Issues

Low-VOC and other environmentally

preferred paints

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are

gases emitted by various solids or liquids,
many of which have short- and long-term
adverse health effects. Solvents in
traditional paints often contain high
quantities of VOCs. Low VOC paints
improve indoor air quality and reduce
urban smog. The beneficial characteristics
of such paints include low odor, clean air,
and safer technology, as well as excellent
durability and a washable finish.
Low-VOC paint types include latex (water-
based), recycled latex (water-based),
acrylic, and milk paint.[1][2]

The labels of paint cans can be checked

for the following information:

To be considered low-VOC, the paint

should contain <50 g/L of VOC.
To be considered zero-VOC, the paint
should contain <5 g/L of VOC.
Solid content usually ranges 25–45%;
higher solid percentages indicate less
VOCs.[3]

In the US, items containing toxic

ingredients have registration numbers with
either the:

1. US Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA)
2. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)
3. United States Department of
Transportation (DOT)

Antifouling paint

Antifouling paint (or bottom paint) is used

to protect the hulls of boats from fouling
by marine organisms. Antifouling paint
protects the surface from corrosion and
prevents drag on the ship from any build-
up of marine organisms. These paints
have contained organotin compounds
such as tributyltin, which are considered to
be toxic chemicals with negative effects
on humans and the environment.[4]
Tributyltin compounds are moderately to
highly persistent organic pollutants that
bioconcentrate up the marine predators'
food chain. One common example is it
leaching from marine paints into the
aquatic environment, causing irreversible
damage to the aquatic life. Tributyltin has
also been linked to obesity in humans, as it
triggers genes that cause the growth of fat
cells.[5]
Tributyltin is harmful to some marine
organisms, including the dog whelk, it
causes dog whelks to suffer from
imposex; females develop male sexual
characteristics such as a penis.[6] This
causes them to become infertile or even
die. In severe cases, males can develop
egg sacs.

Alternatives include biomimetic antifouling

coatings.

Heavy metals

Heavy metals are used in paints and have

raised concerns due to their toxicity at high
levels of exposure and since they build up
in the food chain.

Lead

Lead paint contains lead as pigment. Lead

is also added to paint to speed drying,
increase durability, retain a fresh
appearance, and resist moisture that
causes corrosion. Although banned in
many countries, paint with significant lead
content is still used in areas such as
Eastern Europe and Asia, most commonly
for industry purposes like anticorrosive
paint.[7] For example, leaded paint is
sometimes used to paint roadways and
parking lot lines. Lead, a poisonous metal,
can damage nerve connections (especially
in young children) and cause blood and
brain disorders. Because of lead's low
reactivity and solubility, lead poisoning
usually only occurs in cases when it is
dispersed, such as when sanding lead-
based paint prior to repainting.

Chromium

Primer paint containing hexavalent

chromium is still widely used for
aerospace and automobile refinishing
applications. Zinc chromate has been used
as a pigment for artists' paint, known as
zinc yellow or yellow 36. It is highly toxic
and now rarely used.
Types of Pollution
Production of gas leads to three main
forms of pollution and waste: solid, liquid
and gas.[8]

Liquid

The process of creating paint consumes a

large amount of water and chemicals
which leads to the production of large
amounts of wastewater.[9] Roughly 70% of
the wastewater produced by the paint
manufacturing industry is released into
natural bodies of water which causes the
destination to be polluted.[9] The industry
generates between 75 and 85 million
gallons of wastewater per day. [9] The
wastewater generated during production
has high levels of chemical oxygen
demand (COD) because of all the
substances used in the creation
process.[9][8]

Solid

The paint manufacturing process

produces solid waste.[8] Most of the solid
waste generated is formed in the
dispersion, filing, and fluid transport
stages of paint production.[8] Examples of
solid waste that is formed during
production include adhesives, plastic, and
resins.[8]

Gas

Hazardous gases are released during the

creation and use of paint and can be
harmful to people.[10]

Total suspended particulate matter (TSPM

or TSP) is one of these pollutants.[8] The
World Health Organization has determined
that exposure to total suspended
particulate matter can lead to acute
respiratory infection, asthma, emphysema,
lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and
chronic obstructive lung disease to people
working with it.[11]

The volatile organic compounds emitted

can potentially turn into hazardous air
pollutants.[10] VOCs can cause people to
experience eye irritation, breathing
difficulties, kidney damage, and cancer.[10]
VOCs can negatively affect the
environment by polluting groundwater and
drinking water.[10]

Mitigation
As a response to the environmental and
health concerns, some paint
manufacturers now offer environmentally
friendly alternatives. Also, in some
countries, paint recycling is carried out on
surplus paints and resold.

Paint and coating manufacturers can

modify their operations to reduce and
mitigate air pollution.[12] The first step
manufacturers can take to reduce air
pollution is to eliminate the use of heavy
metals in coating mixtures and
reformulate coatings to be non-
hazardous.[12] In place of heavy metals,
non-hazardous biocides can be used to kill
bacteria.[12] Manufacturers can also
reduce emissions during the creation
process by covering materials and tanks
to reduce spills and leakage during the
blending, mixing, and packaging of the
paint.[12] Paint manufacturers can also
start recycling paint; recycling paint allows
new paint to be created with less
emission.[12]

See also
List of environmental issues
Lead-based paint in the United Kingdom
Lead-based paint in the United States

References
1. "Seattle Public Utilities Sustainable Building
Program Pages:4" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20121019133901/http://www.seattle.
 gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@sustain
ableblding/documents/web_informational/
dpds_007583.pdf) (PDF). Archived from
the original (http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/c
ms/groups/pan/@pan/@sustainablebldin
g/documents/web_informational/dpds_00
7583.pdf) (PDF) on 2012-10-19. Retrieved
2011-02-08.
2. "Engineering News - Demand for
ecofriendly paint expected to rise as
building outlook improves" (http://www.eng
ineeringnews.co.za/print-version/constructi
on-demand-boosts-local-eco-friendly-paints
-2017-03-10) .
3. Loux, Renee (April 2008). Easy Green
Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-
Friendly Choices for You and Your Home (ht
tps://books.google.com/books?id=pqHCC
QAAQBAJ&pg=PT311) . p. 311.
ISBN 9781623363246.
4. Secretariat for the Rotterdam Convention
on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure
for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and
Pesticides in International Trade (26
November 2006). "Draft Decision Guidance
Document for Tributyltin Compounds" (http
s://web.archive.org/web/2007101622293
7/http://www.pic.int/incs/crc3/n14%29/En
glish/K0654009%20CRC3-14.pdf) (PDF).
United Nations Environment Programme.
Archived from the original (http://www.pic.i
nt/incs/crc3/n14)/English/K0654009%20C
RC3-14.pdf) (PDF) on 2007-10-16.
Retrieved 2008-10-06.
5. Staff (2008-12-03). "Persistent Pollutant
May Promote Obesity" (https://www.scienc
edaily.com/releases/2008/12/0812010819
21.htm) . Science daily. Retrieved
2008-12-03.
6. Dan Minchin; Eberhard Stroben; Jörg
Oehlmann; Barbara Bauer; Colm B. Duggan;
Michael Keatinge (1996). "Biological
indicators used to map organotin
contamination in Cork Harbour, Ireland".
Marine Pollution Bulletin. 32 (2): 188.
doi:10.1016/0025-326X(95)00120-C (http
s://doi.org/10.1016%2F0025-326X%2895%
2900120-C) .
7. "Despite bans, most countries still have
lead paint" (http://www.unep.org/news-and
-stories/story/despite-bans-most-countries-
still-have-lead-paint) . UNEP. 2018-10-29.
Retrieved 2022-01-30.
8. marketingDT360 (2021-01-31). "Types of
waste in the paint and related products
industry" (https://oliverbatlle.com/en/types
-of-waste-in-the-paint-industry/) . Oliver +
Batlle. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
 9. Nair K, Surya; Manu, Basavaraju; Azhoni,
Adani (2021-10-15). "Sustainable treatment
of paint industry wastewater: Current
techniques and challenges" (https://www.s
ciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030
1479721011671) . Journal of
Environmental Management. 296: 113105.
doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113105 (http
s://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jenvman.2021.113
105) . ISSN 0301-4797 (https://www.world
cat.org/issn/0301-4797) .
10. "Negative Environmental Effects of Paints &
a Greener Future" (https://eoncoat.com/pai
nt-a-greener-future/) . Retrieved
2023-04-21.
 11. Gusti, Aria; Arifa, Resi. "Health Risk
Assessment of Total Suspended
Particulate Exposure to Employee of PT" (h
ttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC7145910/) . Iranian Journal of Public
Health.
12. "Reducing Air Pollution from: Paint and
Coating Manufacturing" (https://www.epa.g
ov/sites/default/files/2017-06/documents/
paint_manufacturing_oo_sheet.pdf) (PDF).
epa.gov. 2005-09-12. Retrieved
2023-04-21.

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Environmental_effects_of_paint&oldid=1156
534059"
This page was last edited on 23 May 2023, at
10:08 (UTC). •
Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless
otherwise noted.