Paints and Plaster Finishes - Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but may not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant effects. Studies indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times higher, and occasionally more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. Low/No VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) Paints are odor-free and contain little or no volatile organic compounds (VOC). Most paints and finishes off-gas VOC, which can diminish the quality of indoor air. Manufacturers of low VOC use techniques that dramatically reduce or eliminate these VOC. The key to low-VOC paint is a water-based latex base that avoids extenders, drying agents, formaldehyde and heavy-duty preservatives. VOC can be eliminated from the paint completely if color tinting is not used. If color tint is used, the VOC level rises to approximately 10 grams per liter, an insignificant amount when compared with conventional paint. Nearly every major paint manufacturer now carries a line of no or low VOC paints. Lime wash is a zero VOC lime-based coating blended with natural pigments designed to slowly weather. The lime 'blooms' through the paint to create a subtle aged mottling to occur in the color. The result is a beautiful subtle variation and a very natural feeling. Lime wash allows the building to breath - moisture in damp walls can transpire and evaporate into the atmosphere. Lime washes work well in both modern and traditional settings. Milk paint is a zero VOC paint that dates back to Ancient Egypt. Up until the middle 1800's paint was not sold commercially. People made their own. The most common recipe contained milk protein, quicklime and earth pigments. The protein in milk is water soluble, yet dries to a tough finish that can last for decades and won't fade. Milk paint today is sold as a powder, which generally includes casein, plus lime and clay. It gives walls an opaque, handcrafted, weathered character. Because of the unique durability of milk paint, many fine examples still exist that are hundreds of years old and whose finish is just as true as the day the paint was applied. Intergral color plaster can be tinted to any color. An advantage of coloring plaster is that it eliminated the need for paint. Integral colored plaster walls are usually subtly mottled and as with other natural finish materials they allow buildings to breathe, thus enhancing indoor air quality.