9/12/05
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HEALTHY AIR
A COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS GUIDE
Could your family
be affected?
EPA has developed an
online pollution
prevention tool for
paints and coatings.
Called The Coatings
Guide™, this guide
contains several tools
to help users identify
coatings with low VOC
and hazardous air
pollutant content that
may be suitable for
replacing existing paints
or coatings.
— U.S. EPA
Spray Technique
Analysis and Research
(STAR®) training begins
with an analysis of the
spray technician's
spraying technique
through video footage.
STAR® trainers
introduce alternative
spray techniques and
equipment. The
technician's
performance before and
after training is
measured so that
improvements are
demonstrated.
— Iowa Waste Reduction
Center
COMMUNITY INFORMATION SHEET
Reducing Air Pollution from:
Painting and Coating Operations
Why do painting and coating
operations need to reduce air
pollution?
People who are exposed to toxic air
pollutants at sufficient concentrations,
for sufficient durations, may increase
their chances of getting cancer or
experiencing other serious health effects,
such as reproductive problems, birth
defects, and aggravated asthma.
Pollution prevention can reduce the
impact of air pollution by using
materials, processes, or practices that
reduce or eliminate air pollution at the
source.
Painting and coatings operations
preserve, protect, and decorate many
surfaces and products made from a
variety of materials, including metal,
wood, and plastics. Activities at painting
and coating operations include glue
and/or adhesive applications, paint or
varnish application, and protective
coating application, all of which may
release pollutants into the air and may
contribute to health concerns in the
operation and in the community.
The best painting and coating
operations implement pollution
prevention strategies not only to help
comply with federal, state, local, and
Tribal laws but also to further minimize
impacts on human health and the
environment. Check with your state,
local, and Tribal agencies for existing
regulations.
What kinds of air pollutants may
come from painting and coating
operations?
• Painting and coating operations can
produce emissions of toxic air
pollutants.
• Lubricants, degreasers, and cleaners
can release some toxic air pollutants
and volatile organic compounds
(VOC). Chemicals in these
substances can react in the air to form
ground-level ozone (smog), which
has been linked to a number of
respiratory effects.
• While federal, state, local, and Tribal
regulations limit the amount of
emissions from painting and coating
operations, dangerous releases of
toxic air pollutants can occur if a
painting and coating operation is not
in compliance with regulations.
How can painting and coating
operations help reduce air pollution?
Making changes in operation work
practices can stop pollutants at the
source and increase production
efficiency. By evaluating and improving
work practices, operations can decrease
emissions, reduce production costs, and
protect employee and public health.
Examples of changes in work practices
that help reduce air pollution include:
Substituting Materials
• Use cleaners with low toxic air
pollutant and VOC content.
• Use paint types with lower or no
toxic air pollutants or VOC.
Changing Processes
• Change coating methods to ones that
do not require spraying.
• Use enclosed or mechanical parts
washing and gun washing systems.
• Reuse cleaning solution or solvent.
• Schedule color changes to minimize
the amount of cleaning needed
between colors.
Improving Spraying
• Train painters in proper spray
application techniques to reduce
emissions and enhance the quality of
the paint finish.
• Replace old equipment with new and
more efficient equipment, such as
high-volume low-pressure (HVLP)
spray, airless spray, air-assisted
airless spray or electrostatic spray
guns.
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COMMUNITY INFORMATION SHEET
Painting and Coating Operations
9/12/05
Lowering Emissions at the Source
• Open containers only when adding or dispensing
materials.
• Use wet and dry filters in a spray booth to capture
and control paniculate emissions.
As a community, what can you do to help reduce air
pollution from painting and coating operations?
Make Connections
• Get to know local painting and coating operation
owners and operators. They know best about the
materials and processes used in their business and the
regulations with which they must comply.
• Keep local media aware of progress by sending them
updates. Publicity can reward success and attract
more public involvement.
Make a Plan
• One idea is to form a work group that includes local
painting and coating operations to develop and
implement workable pollution reduction plans.
Locate Resources
• Use the "For Further Information" list below to
find governmental and nonprofit contacts who can
provide help with analysis, technical information,
equipment, and funding.
Sponsor Training and Translation
• Small operations may need funding in order to
attend or provide training.
• Improved skills lead to reduced paint usage and
exposure for workers.
Reward Operations
• Use media connections to provide coverage for
successful efforts. Positive publicity can mean
increased business.
• Visibly displayed awards and certificates may also
increase business.
For Further Information
• National Paint and Coatings Association: www.paint.org, (202) 462-6272
• EPA's Sector Strategies Partnership Program for the Paint and Coating Sector:
www.epa.gov/sectors/paintcoatings/index.html, (202) 566-2958
• Community -Based Projects: www.epa.gov/air/toxicair/community.html
• Community information, regional, state contacts: www.epa.gov/epahome/whereyoulive.htm
• Pollution prevention awards: State, local, and Tribal government agencies, universities
• Toxicity of paints and solvents: Paint or coating suppliers, Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
(www.epa.gov/iris), Air Toxics Health Effects Notebooks (www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hapindex.html)
• Training opportunities: Trade associations for painters and coaters.
• STAR® Painting Techniques: Iowa Waste Reduction Center: www.iwrc.org/programs/STAR.cfm, , (800) 422-3 109
• Paints and Coatings Resource Center: www.paintcenter.org
• The Coatings Guide™: www.cage.rti.org
• Solvent Alternatives Guide: www.sage.rti.org
• For more information, please see the Resources section of the Owner/Operator Information Sheet.
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
• Auto and Light-Duty Truck Surface Coating Operations: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/auto/autopg.html
• Large Appliance Surface Coating Operations: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/lapp/lapplpg.html
• Magnetic Tape Manufacturing: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/magtape/magtappg.html
• Metal Can Surface Coating Operations: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/mcan/mcanpg.html
• Metal Coil Surface Coating Operations: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/mcoil/mcoilpg.html
• Miscellaneous Metal Parts and Products Surface Coating Operations: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/misc/miscpg.html
• Paper and Other Web Surface Coating Operations: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/powc/powcpg.html
• Surface Coating of Plastic Parts and Products: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/plastic/plasticpg.html
• Wood Building Products Surface Coating Operations: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/wbldg/wbldgpg.html
HEALTHY AIR: A COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS GUIDE
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