Air Quality

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are gases that are emitted into the air from various products and industrial processes. A complex set of chemical reactions that involve VOCs and NOx create ground-level ozone, which is known to have negative effects on human health and the environment. As such, VOCs and NOx are monitored and regulated in countries and regions throughout the world because of their role in forming gound-level ozone. Air quality standards are implemented by controlling air pollution from different emission sources of VOCs, including the manufacturing and use of paints and coatings.

The coatings industry continues to significantly reduce the VOC content associated with its products by creating advanced chemistries used in paints that are aimed to protect human health and the environment. This is due, in part, to existing stringent VOC regulations encountered by manufacturers and applicators of paints and coatings around the world. The development and implementation of rules with lower VOC limits, as well as increased consumer demand for low-VOC coatings, have reduced VOC emissions from various coatings sources. However, there is concern surrounding the loss of coatings performance and durability with products that have low VOC limits. Although the regulatory environment encountered by manufacturers and applicators of paints and coatings will continue to present challenges for the foreseeable future, industry has been successful in convincing regulators to adopt reasonable VOC standards and requirements that are necessary to achieve the desired balance of maximum coating performance with minimal environmental and human health impact.

The World Coatings Council stands ready to inform national efforts that propose VOC regulations for coatings in an attempt to lower air emissions. The World Coatings Council supports consistent VOC regulations for coatings (e.g., alignment with existing regulations in North America or Europe). Formulating new products can be very challenging and costly for coatings manufacturers, so consistency in regulatory schemes is a practical approach to regulating VOCs in coatings throughout the world.

Resources:
U.S. EPA National VOC Standards for Consumer & Commercial Products (40 CFR Part 59)
European Union Directive to Reduce Emissions of VOCs