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Avoid Toxins within the
Coatings and Paint Industry!
Hazardous chemicals and
additives are among the least expensive and most widely used ingredients
in the coatings industry, perpetuating a legacy of environmental damage
for generations to come. Many petroleum and water based paints and
finishes contain toxic additives that are designed for a narrow short
term benefit (such as killing fungus, mildew, or insects). With the
increase of environmental regulations, many paints and finishes have been
forced to reduce the VOC contents of their products. (VOCs are a large
family of carbon-containing compounds which are emitted or evaporate into
the atmosphere where they participate in photochemical reactions. Some
VOCs contribute to stratosphere ozone depletion, while other VOCs are
toxic and/or carcinogenic.) While the reduction of VOCs in paints and
stains is a step in the right direction, there is still a long road to go
to truly protect the environment and the consumer from the wide variety
of toxins that are used by the coatings industry.
The Environmental Protection Agency is mandated to watchdog all
toxic ingredients within products. What many people do not realize is
that when a product has an EPA registration number, this means that it
contains toxic ingredients that must be monitored. The fact that the
product is registered with the EPA does not mean it is safe to use--it
means the opposite! Products registered with the EPA contain toxic or
dangerous ingredients. So one good way to ensure that you are using a
product that is safe both for the environment and the applicator is to
seek out products that are not registered with the EPA. These products
have no need for regulation, since they contain benign ingredients which
are not harmful to the atmosphere, earth, or user.
Toxic ingredients can impact the human body either by affecting the
respiratory system, the eyes and/or the skin. Within the paint industry
the respiratory system is the most significant route for poisoning.
Substances used in the formulations of coatings, which can be inhaled,
are primarily the vapors of volatile liquids and solids. Paints
frequently contain skin-degrading solvents, as well as a variety of
pigments and miscellaneous additives, many of which can be
physiologically active chemicals. Human skin allows the passage of toxic
substances. Propane sulfone, widely used as a paint vehicle, has been
identified as being a powerful carcinogen and can cause cancer on skin
contact.
Consumers can contribute everyday by refusing to purchase products
which contain hazardous ingredients or offer inferior performance. And
since paints and finishes are so widely used within both the home and
commercial realms, choosing to use non toxic, environmentally safe paints
and finishes can greatly reduce the amount of toxins emitted into the
air, water and earth.
Toxic fumes, dangerous fungicides, and other hazardous ingredients
are the technology of the past. Here at Weather Bos we are
dedicated to protecting the environment by offering consumers a choice.
Our premium blends of natural oils and resins are designed to penetrate
and bond, forming a durable and beautiful finish for quality conscious
consumers and applicators. Weather Bos manufactures a complete line
of environmentally safe paints and finishes to protect most interior and
exterior surfaces. All our formulas are low odor, water reducible, non
flammable, and contain sunscreens, trans-oxides, and/or U.V. stabilizers
to help reduce damage due to climatic conditions.
Just say no to poisons!
Other environmental issues
articles:
New Article: S.F. Panel OKs Law on Lead Paint
Environmental Terms
Recent Article: The Dangers of Pressure Treated (CCA)
Wood
Creosote Seepage Concerns
Environmental Issues: It Is Your Problem
Weather Bos: An Environmental Solution
Volatile Organic Compounds
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