Healthy Air Community Information Sheet: Reducing Air Pollution From Paint and Coating Manufacturing

9/12/05
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HEALTHY AIR
A COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS GUIDE
Could your family
be affected?
Certain paints or
coatings may contain as
much as 40% volatile
organic compounds
(VOC). By reformulating
the mixture to be low-
VOC, air emissions of
these pollutants may be
reduced.
— National Paint and
Coating Association
In one year, a paint
manufacturer took back
44,000 gallons of
unused paint from its
customers and
consumers and
reworked it into new
paint products.
— Valspar Corporation
One manufacturer
recycles and reuses
95% of the solvent used
in the cleanup process,
which reduces emissions
and the amount of
solvent purchased.
— Pollution
Solutions
COMMUNITY INFORMATION SHEET

Reducing Air Pollution from:
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
Why should paint and coating
manufacturing operations 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.
Paint and coating manufacturing
operations produce paints, inks,
adhesives, and a variety of other
specialty coatings that preserve, protect,
and decorate products. Activities such as
mixing and cleaning operations may
release pollutants into the air and cause
health concerns in the community.
The best paint and coating
manufacturing 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 the manufacture of paints
and coatings?
• Paint and coating manufacturing
operations can produce hazardous air
pollutants, including heavy metals.
• Mixing and cleaning operations 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.
• Pigment grinding and milling emits
particle pollution (dust), which can
contain heavy metals and other toxic
air pollutants. While federal, state,
local, and Tribal regulations limit the
amount of emissions from paint and
coating manufacturing operations,
dangerous releases of toxic air
pollutants can occur if a paint and
coating manufacturing operation is
not in compliance with regulations.

How can paint and coating
manufacturers 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:

Changing Products
• Eliminate the use of heavy metals
like chromium and cadmium in paint
pigments.
• Change coatings to reduce solvent
content.

Changing Cleaning Procedures
• Use cleaning procedures that reduce
the amount of solvent needed.
• Schedule product runs to minimize
the amount of cleaning needed
between colors or products.

Recycling and Reformulating
• Collect dust from pigment grinding
operations for reuse.
• Rework or blend off-specification
materials into new products.
• Set up or participate in a paint
exchange program.

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                            COMMUNITY INFORMATION SHEET
                                  Paint ant Coating Manufacturing
                                               9/12/05
As a community, what can you do to help reduce air
pollution from paint and coating manufacturing
operations?

Make Connections
•  Get to know local paint and coating manufacturing
   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
   owners and operators to develop and  implement
   workable pollution reduction plans.

Locate Resources
•  Use the "For Further Information" list below to find
   governmental and nonprofit contracts who can
   provide help with analysis, technical information,
   equipment, and funding.

Reward Operations
•  Use media connections to provide coverage for
   successful efforts. Positive publicity can mean
   increased business.
•  Visibly displayed awards or certificates may also
   increase business.

Inform the Public
•  Work with coating manufacturers to educate the
   public about reformulated paints.
•  Users of reformulated coatings may require
   training to inform them that these coatings will
   have the same functionality as the coatings they
   replace.
•  Emphasize reductions in toxic air pollutant
   emissions, safety hazards, and the use of
   potentially toxic solvents.
                               For  Further Information
•  National Paint and Coatings Association: www.paint.org, (202) 462-6272
•  EPA Air Toxics Web Site: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/
•  EPA's Sector Strategies Partnership Program for the Paint and Coatings Sector:
   www.epa.gov/sectors/paintcoatings/index.html, (202) 566-2958
•  National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing:
   www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/mcm/mcmpg. html
•  National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing and Mis-
   cellaneous Coating Manufacturing: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/mon/monpg.html
•  Paints and Coatings Resource Center: www.paintcenter.org
•  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 materials: Materials suppliers, Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) (www.epa.gov/iris), Air Toxics
   Health Effects Notebooks (www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hapindex.html)
•  Training opportunities: Paint and coatings manufacturing trade associations
•   Solvent Alternatives Guide: www.sage.rti.org
•  The Coatings Guide™: www.cage.rti.org

•  For more information, please see the Resources section of the Owner/Operator Information Sheet.
              HEALTHY   AIR:  A COMMUNITY  AND  BUSINESS  LEADERS  GUIDE

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