VOC’s, what are they? If you have been to the hardware store lately or have been buying paint, you will notice a lot of brands marketing their environmentally friendly ranges with low VOC’s so what does this mean? Volatile organic compounds are solvents that are released in to the air as the paint dries (it should be noted that many other products emit VOC’s such as cleaning products, adhesives & even some home furnishings such as joinery etc) they can linger in the air for weeks and months and can cause acute symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea and some are known carcinogens so it’s clear that they aren’t good for the air we breath and our health. These can be avoided by requesting the use of low or no VOC paints, these products generally emit less odours and offer faster drying times. It’s great these products are becoming more available and are a great idea to consider these options if you are living in the home at the time of painting especially if children are present.