V.O.C.

V.O.C.’s

Introduction

- What are V.O.C.’s?

- Why is it important to control V.O.C. emissions?

- V.O.C. emissions from coatings

- General countermeasures for V.O.C. emissions

• (There has been a lot of discussion about V.O.C’s recently in the refinish industry.

• This manual has been designed to explain exactly what VOC’s are, how they affect everyone's daily life, and what PPG is doing in the industry to reduce the problem.

• As a manufacturer of paints for the refinish industry, PPG has always had a strong interest in the health and safety of its customers, and produces low VOC materials that are ecologically proven to be better at reducing pollution to the world’s atmosphere.

• Legislation is currently in force in the U.S.A, and several parts of Europe and the European parliament are currently producing legislation, which will soon be introduced.)

What are V.O.C.’S?

- V.O.C. = Volatile Organic Compound

- The solvents used in many automotive products are
examples of V.O.C.'s

- Products involved include :-

• Paints (primers, topcoats etc.)

• Solvent Degreasers

• Gun Wash

Why is it important to control VOC emissions?

- VOC's are a major contributor to the photochemical air pollution

- Once released into the atmosphere, for example during application or from an open container, VOC solvents will react with Nitrogen Oxides under the influence of sun light

- As a result of this Ozone is created

While there has been much publicity about the depletion of the ozone layer, this refers to ozone in the stratosphere

(at a distance of 40 km from the earth's surface)

On the contrary, closer to the earth's surface (up to 2km) and in the troposphere (up to 10 km) there is strong evidence of photochemical air pollution, in which a surplus of ozone is injurious to health

The effects of this pollution can cause serious respiratory problems including a decrease in lung function

Note: (The effects of this pollution is to destroy vegetation, and it can have grave effects on the human respiratory system, causing a diminution of the pulmonary function and an increase of the susceptibility to pulmonary infection. The effects of this photo-chemical pollution are more evident in the summer and in sunny climates.

• Studies have shown that the formation of this ozone can be considerably controlled and reduced by reducing the quantity of VOC being released into the atmosphere, thus easing the effects on people and the ecology in general. It is estimated that a reduction of 70% of ozone in the tropospheric atmosphere, would return the ozone levels to normal.

• There are many industries and processes that emit VOC’s, and the application of refinish paints, is one of five activities that emit VOC. The ecological preoccupation of the warming of the earth's atmosphere, has gained much notoriety in urban zones. In particular on the east coast of the USA, where a combination of great industrial activity, extensive use of automobiles, abundant sunlight and other geographic considerations, have contributed to create a very serious pollution problem in Los Angeles)