Interior Paint Product Guidance

Interior paints are most often classified by binder type, which informs their function and performance. Types covered in this guidance include lime, mineral silicate, acrylic/latex, and alkyd. While not all paint types are suitable for all applications, moving away from red-ranked products is a step forward in reducing the health impacts of paints. 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the most well-known health hazard issue related to paint. In addition, many other substances can be hazardous to the health of painters, building occupants, and the environment. 

For example, polymers used in standard paints are plastics, derived from oil or natural gas. Oil and gas extraction and processing release hazardous pollution that can have significant impacts on the health of people in surrounding communities, and these polluting facilities are disproportionately sited in BIPOC and low-wealth communities contributing to environmental injustice.[1] Furthermore, the plastic in paint generates significant microplastic pollution. A recent report estimated that paints are the single largest source of microplastic leakage into oceans and waterways.[2] As a result, paints with mineral-based binders, such as lime and mineral silicate, are preferred to paints with polymer-based binders, such as acrylic or latex. Not only are the contents of mineral paint less hazardous for building occupants, but they also have less hazardous chemical impacts throughout their life.

Additional chemicals of concern in paints include alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Encourage manufacturers to fully disclose the content of paint bases and colorants, including any APEs and PFAS through the industry’s collaborative, user-designed open standard, Health Product Declarations (HPD). Use this template to ask for this public disclosure. 

Here is some additional guidance to help you choose an interior paint:

• Prefer mineral-based paints like lime or mineral silicate. Mineral paints have less hazardous content than standard paints and typically use much less and sometimes entirely avoid plastic, reducing hazardous chemical impacts in their production.
• For acrylic, latex, or alkyd paints:
  • Look for alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE)- and PFAS-free base paints and colorants.[3]
    • APEs are a chemical group of concern and a high priority to avoid. These chemicals are commonly used as surfactants in paints. They contain and break down into endocrine-disrupting chemicals.[4] The good news is that alternate chemicals are available, and a transition is underway in the market. For more information, see the red-to-green ranking below.
    • New research indicates paints can contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals.[5] It is still unclear what function(s) these chemicals may play, though PFAS-based surfactants are marketed for paints.[6] PFAS may be included below the reporting threshold and may not appear on disclosure documents such as HPDs and Declare labels. Confirm with manufacturers that paints and colorants do not contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). If you are a large purchaser or supplier, use your purchasing power to request PFAS-free paints from manufacturers to help shift the market towards chemicals that have been assessed and shown to be less hazardous.
  • Prefer water-based paints with both low VOC content and low VOC emissions, and colorants that do not increase the VOC content of the base paint when tinted.
    • VOC content labeling is often related to chemicals contributing to smog formation. While reducing VOCs that contribute to environmental degradation may result in health co-benefits, such labeling may also exempt chemicals that are hazardous to human health that do not contribute to smog formation.[7] Most standard acrylic and latex paints are now considered “low VOC” with less than 50 grams VOCs per liter (g/L). Improve your selection by choosing paints with very low (<10 g/L) or zero VOCs (<5 g/L).
    • Low VOC emissions testing and certifications complement low VOC content by ensuring low levels of releases of certain health-hazardous chemicals. Certified products have been tested to meet the requirements of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method for Testing and Evaluation of VOC Emissions. Low VOC content and emission certification information may be found on product labels and/or in product literature, such as Technical Data Sheets available from manufacturers.[8] Additionally, various indoor air quality certifications exist that require emissions testing, such as Greenguard. See our article on VOCs for more information and a list of indoor air quality certifications.
    • Keep in mind that colorants can add VOCs and other hazardous content to paints. Look for and prefer paints with colorants that do not increase the VOC content of the base paint when tinted.
• Avoid paints making antimicrobial-related health claims, such as protection from specific disease-causing organisms like bacteria or viruses. These paints are often registered as pesticides with the EPA. All water-based paints contain preservatives that protect the product from spoiling in the can and many contain preservatives that protect the dry film from mold and mildew. These are currently unavoidable uses of antimicrobial additives. Paints that contain additional pesticides and may be advertised as “microbicidal”, “anti-viral”, “anti-bacterial”, or similar should be avoided. Such paints are required to be registered with the EPA. To date, no evidence suggests that the use of such products results in healthier populations, and the incorporated antimicrobials can negatively impact human health.[9]
• Use caution when specifying specialty paints such as chalkboard, whiteboard, and magnetic paint, which may introduce additional hazards not covered here. Certain specialty paints, such as chalkboard and magnetic paint, may be available with no significant additional hazard beyond the base paint from which they are made.[10] As with all paints, prefer low VOC, water-based products that are APE- and PFAS-free. Other specialty paints should be avoided. For example, whiteboard or dry-erase paint is typically made from epoxy or two-part polyurethane, both of which introduce hazardous chemicals.[11] Recycled paints may contain large amounts of VOCs and it is difficult or impossible to know the content of the recycled material which could introduce hazards.[12] If your project requires a specialty effect on the walls, consider a solution that does not involve paint. For example, hanging a sheet of stainless steel on a wall will provide a magnetic surface. If you want residents to write on a wall, we recommend installing a slate chalkboard.