Sleeping or staying for just a few minutes in freshly painted rooms less than 48 hours after, according to pulmonologists and public health physicians exposes people to some hazardous chemicals that can cause respiratory illnesses and various types of cancer.
According to them, volatile organic chemicals found in paints might irritate the lungs, leading to allergies, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
The experts, however, said not everyone will have such symptoms from being exposed to paint fumes and not all paints include organic chemicals but there is a need to apply caution.
According to a health website, Healthline, most paints have some level of volatile organic chemicals also known as VOCs, which are released into the air as gases, solids or liquids.
It noted that VOCs include; toluene, xylene, acetone, formaldehyde, and benzene.
A study published in an open journal found that higher levels of a specific type of VOC called propylene glycol and glycol ethers lead to a greater likelihood of conditions, such as asthma, eczema, and rhinitis.
A professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Tanimola Akande explained that fresh paint has some toxic effects particularly if it is gloss paints, stressing that it can pose several hazards to humans.
He explained, “Those that are asthmatic may rapidly get attacks from perceiving the smell emanating from paints. Fresh paint can pose several hazards to humans due to the release of volatile organic compounds and other chemicals into the air. These chemicals can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as cause headaches and dizziness
“It’s important to ensure proper ventilation when painting indoors and to follow safety guidelines provided by paint manufacturers to minimize these risks.
