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The use of heavy metals in paints has raised concerns due to their toxicity at high exposure levels and because they accumulate in the food chain.
Another harmful material that can be found in paint is lead. Lead is usually added to paint to speed up drying, increase durability, maintain a fresh appearance and resist corrosive moisture. The lead-based paint is still used in industry and the military. For example, lead paint is sometimes used to paint roadways and parking lines. Lead, a poisonous metal, can damage nerve connections (especially in young children) and cause blood and brain disorders. Due to the low reactivity and solubility of lead, lead poisoning usually only occurs when it is dispersed, such as when sanding lead-based paint prior to recoating.
The hexavalent chromium primer is still widely used in the aerospace and automotive industries. Zinc chromate has been used as a pigment for art paints known as zinc yellow or yellow 36. It is highly toxic and, thankfully, rarely used today.
Antifouling paint (or bottom paint) is used to protect boat hulls from fouling by marine life. The anti-fouling paint protects the surface from corrosion and prevents the vessel from dragging against the accumulation of marine organisms. These paints contain organotin compounds such as tributyltin, which are considered toxic chemicals with negative effects on humans and the environment. Tributyltin compounds are moderately to very persistent organic pollutants that bioconcentrate in the food chain of marine predators. One common example is the leaching of marine paints into the aquatic environment causing irreversible damage to aquatic organisms. Tributylotine has also been linked to obesity in humans because it triggers genes that cause fat cells to grow.
The oil paint label says “oil-based” or “alkyd” or will instruct you to clean your brushes with mineral spirits or turpentine. These types of paints are toxic and can cause enormous damage to the environment (including humans and animals) if not disposed of properly.
Latex or water-based paint, on the other hand, is not considered hazardous waste and can enjoy many reincarnations after its first use. Latex paints are those that are cleaned with soap and water. They are very common in both interior and exterior painting. However, even this type of breading must be properly disposed of or recycled. In particular, it is not recommended to pour latex paint into drains, on the ground, or into streams, streams or rivers. Disposing of paint in this way introduces pollutants into the air, soil and groundwater, which may eventually enter the food chain.
When figuring out how to get rid of a lot of unused paint, always get professional advice. Any reputable hazardous waste disposal company will be able to help you.
Here are some measures you can take to reduce the environmental impact of the paint you use.
1. If possible, choose a paint with a low VOC content
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted by various solids or liquids, many of which have short and long-term adverse health effects. The solvents in traditional paints often contain large amounts of VOC. Low VOC paints can improve indoor air quality and reduce urban smog. The beneficial features of such paints are low odor, clean air and safer technology, as well as excellent durability and washable finish. Types of low VOC paints include latex (water based), recycled latex (water based), acrylic and milk based paint.
You can check the paint can labels for the following information:
To be considered low volatile, the paint should contain <50 g / l VOC.
To be considered VOC free, the paint should contain <5 g / l VOC.
Solids content typically ranges from 25-45%, higher percentages of solids indicate less VOC
2. Avoid over-buying paint
Each year, 10 percent of the paint sold in the UK is thrown away simply because too much is purchased for each project. You can avoid this mistake by using a paint calculator to help you figure out how much paint your project really needs.
3. Reuse your paint
If stored properly, the paint will last for years. To properly store it, you need to:
– Cover the opening of the paint can with foil.
– Replace the lid and make sure it is not leaking.
– Turn the can upside down so that the paint can create its own seal.
– Store the can upside down in a place that is frost-free and out of the reach of children and pets.
4. Recover unused paint
The best way to deal with leftover paint (after avoiding over-buying) is to find someone else who can reuse the leftovers. Try to be imaginative local councils, schools, universities and art academies, everyone can be happy to use some of your old paint on their projects.
Unused paint can also be recycled to obtain low-quality paint. Latex sludge can be recovered and used as a filler in other industrial products. Waste solvents can be recovered and used as fuels in other industries. A clean paint container can be reused or sent to your local landfill.
If a large amount of paint cannot be reused or recycled, it makes sense to call a professional chemical waste disposal company.
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Source by Stewart Gillham