Your Own Home Could Be Making Your Allergies Worse Tips For Choosing Safe Painting Supplies In 2019

You’re ready to start painting your home. You’ve got some beautiful interior decorating ideas and you can’t wait to show off your stuff. …Are you choosing safe brands, though?

It can come as a shock, but there are quite a few nasty chemicals sitting right under your own roof. VOCs, PGEs, you name it. Indoor air pollution is one of the most hazardous elements you can come into contact with, made all the worse by products that care more about results than health! When it comes to being eco-friendly, starting with your painting and primer products is the way to go. This is especially true if you have family members with chemical sensitivities or are expecting a child.

Here’s what you should know about the health hazards of VOC and what you can do to avoid it during your next home renovation project.

Indoor Air Pollution Is Caused By Several Factors

Think your home is safer than a world filled with greenhouse gases and pollen? Think again. Research has shown that indoor air pollution is up to three times worse in your home than even the busiest freeway, due in no small part to airborne pollutants building up over time. Dust, pollen, dander, dirt, bacteria…when you add harmful chemicals to the list? It’s no wonder you’re feeling so groggy when you get up in the morning.

Everyday Products Can House Dangerous Chemicals

Before you get to painting, get to studying. That seemingly innocuous gloss varnish for your floor can have some hidden features that affect the health of your family. A report by the CBC Marketplace found VOC levels over 500 ppb have the ability to cause serious problems for people with chemical sensitivities. On the plus side, flooring that’s over one year old will have most, if not all, of its VOCs dissipated. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t double-check the labels of the next brand you buy.

Existing Allergies Can Be Made Worse

Do you have anyone in the home with existing allergies or asthma? You’ll want to be even more chemical. Sweden recently had a few researchers conduct a Dampness In Buildings And Health study, finding children with bedroom PGE concentrations in the top 25% having a 100% higher likelihood of having asthma. This is on top of having a 150% higher chance of having eczema and a 300% higher chance of rhinitis. Environmentally friendly painting supplies are simply the only option.

Your Productivity Can Be Affected

Those that work at home, listen closely. Even your productivity can take a hit when you work in an unsavory environment. A controlled study had participants working a full six days in an environmentally adjusted office space at the TIEQ lab at the Syracuse Center Of Excellence. VOC levels were reduced to 50 micrograms per cubic meter, in accordance with the outdoor air, and the results were startling. Cognitive scores were 100% higher than in conventional workspaces.

Avoiding Harmful Chemicals Can Be Done With Smart Purchases

The health effects from VOCs are starting to become more widely known. When painting your baby’s room a new color or adding a new varnish to your porch, double-checking the label will go a long way in keeping your home healthy. This applies to just about every area of life, too! A study provided by the Survey Research Institute at Cornell University saw a majority 85% of travelers stating they would choose an allergy-friendly room if they had the option.

Start painting the right way. Look for baby room safe paint and anti slip paint free from VOCs.