Hong Kong's air quality is worsening, both outdoor and indoor.
A common cause of deteriorated indoor air quality might be due to the generation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paints, solvents, adhesives, etc. during and after renovation.
The Consumer Council has called on the consumer public to support and practise green renovation whenever possible with the use of eco-paints.
It will safeguard not only your health and that of your family but the environment, too.
It is not uncommon for people to experience eye irritation, headache, dizziness, cough, nose and throat irritations where renovation is in progress. This is because of the release of VOCs from products commonly used for renovation.
The Council warned that many of the VOCs are actually carcinogenic or probably carcinogenic to humans or animals posing potential health hazards.
To reduce exposure to VOCs during renovation, consumers are urged to consider the use of eco-paints that are of water-based or lower VOCs content.
At present, paint manufacturers are not required by law to reveal the VOCs content in their products.
But this situation will change by 2008-2010 when new VOC control programme, approved by Legco's Panel on Environmental Affairs, new labelling requirements on paints will come into implementation.
Already some products are now available on the market with claims of "solvent free" or "VOC free", although there is yet no well recognized international standard for such product claims.
Consumers can look for environmental friendly products certified by green bodies and bearing labels accredited by green bodies and also check the product ingredients.
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