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VOC Emissions from Surface Coatings

VOC Emissions from Surface Coatings

Surface coating products generate 12% of total anthropogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions in Australia. VOC emissions contribute to ozone formation and the inability of some parts of Australia to meet ozone standards under the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure.   Ground level ozone is associated with increased rates of disease and mortality. VOCs also include harmful air toxics. No safe levels of exposure to ozone have been identified and standards are more stringent overseas. Climate change is expected to exacerbate existing problems.
 
According to the National Pollutant Inventory, architectural coatings (primarily house paints) alone account for 47,000 tonnes of VOC emissions per year (10% of national VOC emissions from anthropogenic sources). They have become a proportionally larger contributor as a range of policy measures have reduced emissions from other major sources.
Internationally, limits on VOC emissions from paints have been enforced in Europe, the United States and Canada. In Australia, the VOC content in some paint products has been limited under the voluntary Australian Paint Approval Scheme (APAS). APAS standards are less stringent than US or European mandatory standards.
 
In 2007, the EPHC established a working group to investigate the need for national action to reduce VOC emissions from surface coatings. A technical study to support this project has now been completed and is available below.

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