Thinking Thursday - What are VOCs and should we be concerned?

News stories about chemical dangers in food, in health products, where we work and in our homes, appear almost daily, so we worry.  

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are carbon-containing compounds that, as the product dries, get released into the air where they react with other elements to produce ozone, which in turn causes air pollution and health issues. It makes sense, then, to limit those VOCs in our products.  

It sounds like we should get rid of VOCs altogether in our products, but some of these compounds are what gives the product the ability to do their job.  The addition of VOCs is usually necessary in products to bind the resins and water to each other to form a cohesive binder, and to allow the product to stick to its intended surface.  In most cases, some amount of these compounds is unavoidable.  So, when you go to paint your home, build a wood project, or refinish some cabinetry, you want to make sure that you and your family are safe so use Aqua Coat.

Here are some benefits to using Aqua Coat products:

• Fast drying 
• Low VOC
• Cleaner air in home 
• No strong odors 
• Cost effective 
• Easier cleanup with soap and water 
• Durable and long lasting

All our products at Aqua Coat are low VOC. Each product page on our site has a link to a safety data sheet in compliance with EPA standards.

If you are worried about VOCs, there are a couple of things you can do: 

• Purchase water-based products, like Aqua Coat’s wood finishing line, because they have fewer VOCs than oil/solvent-based products.
• Purchase products that clean up with water.
• Always use Aqua Coat products in a well-ventilated area

Visit us at www.aquacoat.com for more information.