Environmental impact of paint
Encyclopedia
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
materials and processes can have harmful effects on the environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
, including those from the use of lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
and other additives. Measures can be taken to reduce environmental impact, including accurately estimating paint quantities so that wastage is minimized, use of paints, coatings, painting accessories and techniques that are environmentally preferred.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
guidelines and Green Star
Green Star (Australia)
Green Star is a voluntary environmental rating system for buildings in Australia. It was launched in 2003 by the Green Building Council of Australia....
ratings are some of the standards that can be applied.
Low-VOC and other environmentally preferred paints
Volatile organic compoundVolatile organic compound
Volatile organic compounds are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and...
s 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. Paints that are low in VOCs ) improve indoor air quality and reduce urban smog. The beneficial characteristics of such green paints include: low odor, clean air formula, safer technology, as well as excellent durability, and a washable finish.
Low-VOC paint types include: Latex (water based), recycled latex (water based), acrylic
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint is fast drying paint containing pigment suspension in acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry...
, and milk paint.
The labels of paint cans can be checked for the following information:
- To be considered Low-VOC, the paint should consist of <50 grams per liter (g/l) of VOC.
- To be considered Zero-VOC, the paint should consist of <5 g/l of VOC.
- Solid content usually ranges from 25-45%, higher solid percentages ensures less VOC's.
In the US, items containing toxic ingredients will have registration numbers with either the:
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationOccupational Safety and Health AdministrationThe United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
(OSHA) - United States Department of TransportationUnited States Department of TransportationThe United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
(DOT)
Anti-fouling paint
Anti-fouling paint (or bottom paint) is used to protect the hulls of boats from foulingFouling
Fouling refers to the accumulation of unwanted material on solid surfaces, most often in an aquatic environment. The fouling material can consist of either living organisms or a non-living substance...
by marine organisms. Anti-fouling paint protects the surface from corrosion and prevents drag on the ship from any build up of marine organisms. These paints have contained organotin
Organotin
Organotin compounds or stannanes are chemical compounds based on tin with hydrocarbon substituents. Organotin chemistry is part of the wider field of organometallic chemistry. The first organotin compound was diethyltin diiodide, discovered by Edward Frankland in 1849...
compounds such as tributyltin
Tributyltin
Tributyltin compounds are a group of compounds containing the 3Sn moiety, such as tributyltin hydride or tributyltin oxide. They are the main active ingredients in certain biocides used to control a broad spectrum of organisms...
(TBT) compounds which are considered to be toxic chemicals which have negative effects on humans and the environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
. Tributyltin compounds are moderately to highly persistent organic pollutant
Persistent organic pollutant
thumb|right|275px|State parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic PollutantsPersistent organic pollutants are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes...
s that bioconcentrate up the marine predators' food chain. One common example is leaching of TBT 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.
TBT is harmful to some marine organisms, including the dog whelk
Dog Whelk
The dog whelk, dogwhelk, or Atlantic dogwinkle, scientific name Nucella lapillus, is a species of predatory sea snail, a carnivorous marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the rock snails....
. TBT causes dog whelks to suffer from imposex
Imposex
Imposex is a descriptive term applied to some sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs which, under the toxic effects of pollutants, develop sex organs that are in contrast to their actual sex...
: females develop male sexual characteristics such as a penis. This causes them to become infertile or even die. In severe cases males can develop egg sacs.
Alternatives to TBT include biomimetic antifouling coatings and ePaint.
Heavy metals
Heavy metals are used in paints and it has raised concerns due to their toxicity at high levels of exposure and since they build up in the food chainFood chain
A food web depicts feeding connections in an ecological community. Ecologists can broadly lump all life forms into one of two categories called trophic levels: 1) the autotrophs, and 2) the heterotrophs...
.
Lead
Lead paint is paint containing lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
as pigment. Lead is also added to paint to speed drying, increase durability, retain a fresh appearance, and resist moisture that causes corrosion. Paint with significant lead content is still used in industry and by the military. For example, leaded paint is sometimes used to paint roadways and parking lot lines. Lead is a poisonous metal that can damage nervous connections (especially in young children) and cause blood and brain disorders. Because of its low reactivity and solubility, lead poisoning
Lead poisoning
Lead poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems...
usually only occurs in cases when the lead is dispersed, like when sanding lead based paint prior to repainting.
Chromium
Primer paint
Primer (paint)
A primer is a preparatory coating put on materials before painting. Priming ensures better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability, and provides additional protection for the material being painted.-When primers are used:...
containing hexavalent chromium
Hexavalent chromium
Hexavalent chromium refers to chemical compounds that contain the element chromium in the +6 oxidation state. Virtually all chromium ore is processed via hexavalent chromium, specifically the salt sodium dichromate. Approximately of hexavalent chromium were produced in 1985...
is still widely used for aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
and automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
refinishing applications. Zinc chromate
Zinc chromate
Zinc chromate, ZnCrO4, is a chemical compound containing the chromate anion, appearing as odorless yellow solid powder. It is used industrially in chromate conversion coatings, having been developed by Ford Motor Company in 1920s...
has been used as a pigment for artists paint, known as Zinc Yellow or Yellow 36. It is highly toxic and now rarely used.
Mitigation
As a response to the environmental and health concerns some paint manufacturers now offer environmentally friendlyEnvironmentally friendly
Environmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....
alternatives. Also, in some countries paint recycling
Paint recycling
Paint is a recyclable item. Latex paint is collected at collection facilities in many counties and shipped to paint-recycling facilities.- How paint is recycled :...
is be carried out on surplus paints and resold.
Products like ECOBOND LBP are available to treat lead. Ecobond can chemically change lead to make it less leechable and therefore easier on the environment.
See also
- List of environmental issues
- Lead-based paint in the United KingdomLead-based paint in the United KingdomLead-based paint in the United Kingdom was banned from sale to the general public in 1992, apart from for specialist uses. Prior to this lead compounds had been used as the pigment and drying agent in different types of paint, for example brick and some tile paint-White lead paint:Up until the...
- Lead-based paint in the United StatesLead-based paint in the United StatesLead-based paint in the United States resulted in a court case against the Lead Industries Association.Due in great part to studies carried out by Philip J. Landrigan, paint containing more than 0.06% lead was banned for residential use in the United States in 1978 by the U.S...