Is your paint toxic?

New baby on the way? Can't wait to paint the nursery?
Before you do any painting in your home, especially those of you with children or some on the way, make sure the paints you use are safe for you and your family. Most paints contain something called VOCs, otherwise known as Volatile Organic Compounds. These are the chemicals in the paint that help hold the color pigments and resins into the solution so that the paint, and the color, will stick to the walls. Then, since they are volatile (meaning that they want to be in a gaseous state and not in a liquid form) they begin to evaporate as soon as they are applied, allowing the paint to dry quickly.
VOCs are problematic because they are toxic. If you have ever painted before, you know the strong odor that paints give off, and hence, the need to ventilate an area well during painting to prevent headaches and a general feeling of "bleh". VOCs are released in the highest concentrations during and immediately following application, but continue to emit from the paint for months or even YEARS after you apply it. VOCs can cause eye irritation, respiratory problems, headaches, nausea, damage to the kidneys, liver and central nervous system and have (like everything else) been linked to cancer.
If you have recently painted with a paint containing VOCs, the best thing to do is to keep the room well ventilated and try to avoid spending long periods of time in the room for at least several weeks. Keep all children (and pregnant women) out of the room for at least several weeks. Also, make sure that you always dispose of paint properly-- the high amount of chemicals make it harmful to the environment, and it can cause groundwater contamination if it seeps through the earth (this is the water you drink from, people). So, NEVER throw paint into the trash. Either recycle it or bring it to a hazardous waste facility. Portland has a great program where they collect old paints, separate them into general color categories and then mix them all together and resell them. These paints are not VOC-free, but they are recycled and they are super cheap. If you can't afford to buy VOC-free, see if your town has a similar paint recycling program.
If you haven't painted recently (but want to) then make sure to choose a low-VOC or no-VOC paint if your budget can afford it. These paints tend to be a bit pricier, but are made from natural ingredients with no or less harmful side effects. Click here for some names and ingredients of earth-friendly (and health-friendly) paints. You should be able to find low/no VOC paints wherever paint is sold, however, for a larger selection, you may want to go to a specialty home improvement store. Portland, which prides itself on being a green building city, has a multitude of green building suppliers. Depending on where you live however, your selection may be more limited. If you are looking for a bargain, sometimes stores have accidentally mixed a gallon of the wrong color paint. If you are not particular about a color, you can often get paints (even no/low VOC ones) at a much lower price!
We used a VOC-free paint to paint our son's nursery before he was born. It did not brush on as smoothly as "normal" paint, but had no bad odor and has a wonderful finish and texture to it. I was 100% happy with that paint, and can say that I will never go back to paint full of toxins.
I know that when you are expecting, there comes a time when you want to paint the nursery and get it ready for your new arrival. Painting with regular, VOC-containing paint, is not a healthy choice for your baby (or for you!), as the chemicals will be breathed in by the mother while the fetus is in-utero and will remain for your new, sensitive baby to breathe in after they are born. If you MUST paint while expecting and can't afford VOC-free paint, then 1) paint as early as possible so that most of the fumes will have disappeared before baby arrives 2) let dad or a friend do all of the painting and keep the baby-carrying women out of the room and 3) keep windows open and fans on (blowing air out of the windows, not in). Many a family has painted their baby's room in eager anticipation of their arrival, and if you are one of them, do not feel guilty or worried. This is relatively new knowledge, and with knowledge comes power. We all make the best choices we can, but our choices can not truly be the "best" when we do not have all of the information!