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Paint is made up of the following components –
Pigment. This provides colour and of course the ingredients will vary depending upon the colour of the paint, but in conventional paints the pigments may contain toxic compounds and heavy metals such as lead, chromium and cadmium – all dangerous to health and damaging to the environment.
Natural alternatives include plant pigments and pigments derived from iron oxides and minerals which are usually less damaging to the environment. It must be noted however that titanium dioxide, despite occurring naturally, uses lots of energy in it's extraction and refinement. This obviously has environmental implications and so some natural paint companies offer titanium dioxide free formulations.
Binders. These keep the paint glued to the surface that has been painted and the binders used will vary depending upon the finish of the paint. Many commercial paints contain petrochemical binders and some will contain alkyphenols – these damage human lymphocytes (which produce antibodies and fight infection) and are thought to be partially responsible for disrupting sexual development in some animals, particularly fish.
Natural alternatives include flour starch, milk protein and linseed oil.
Fillers. These create texture and add bulk to the paint and can include powdered chalk, talcum, limestone, silica and marble.
Solvents. Solvents help the paint to achieve the correct consistency and evaporate as the paint dries. In many commercial paints the solvents include volatile organic compounds or VOCs. Organic in this sense just means that the compounds contain carbon. They are responsible for much of the ‘new paint’ smell associated with conventional paints and can cause various symptoms including headaches, nausea and dizziness. As VOC’s evaporate they damage the environment by depleting ozone and according to Greenpeace, the increase in VOCs in the atmosphere has led to a decline in reproductive function in both humans and wildlife. VOCs that may be present in conventional paint include toluene, a possible carcinogen which has been linked to long-term liver damage and Xylene, which has been linked to foetal damage.
Natural alternatives include citrus thinners and natural turpentine. Although preferable to solvents used in most conventional paint, it should be noted that these can still contain low levels of VOCs.
Additives. Commercial paint often contains additives such as biocides to discourage the growth of mould, plasticizers to improve consistency and driers. Common additives include polyurethane, which is used in non-drip paints and degrades into toxic chemicals, and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) which offset the flammable qualities of paints containing volatile solvents. These are very toxic to aquatic life and are known carcinogens.
In addition to the above, manufacturing synthetic paint is energy intensive and wasteful – for every tonne of conventional paint produced, 10 tonnes of waste are created. Since much of this waste is artificially synthesised, it is not easily able to re-enter the eco-system and can be highly toxic.
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