Coatings World - August 2008

International Coatings Scene

EUROPE

BY SEAN MILMO

EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT

MILMOCW@RODPUB.COM

Air quality restrictions get tougher

Beyond

REACH

coatings

manufacturers

face further

restrictions

regarding

air quality.

Coatings manufacturers in Europe, which are already having to comply with a series of new safety and environmental regulations, are now being confronted with the likelihood of further legal restrictions aimed at exerting more control over the quality of air in buildings.

Companies in coatings and other sectors using solvents are currently dealing with limits on emissions of VOCs. These are contained in two EU directives, which have been incorporated in the legislation of the EU’s 27 member states.

One curbs emissions of VOCs from industrial facilities. The other, called the Decopaint directive, which was approved in 2004, limits the use of organic solvents in decorative paints and varnishes, and in vehicle refinishing products.

Coatings producers are also in the early stages of complying with the EU’s REACH scheme for the registration, evaluation and authorization of chemicals. This has just started a six-month phase for the pre-regis-tration of some 30,000 substances, a large proportion of which are used in coatings.

The REACH registration dossiers for some of the chemicals, which will be based on information from their producers or importers and from their downstream users, will have to contain data on their possible risk to human health in environments like the inside of buildings.

Those substances considered to be of high concern because they are carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic to reproduction (CMR), or persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or are endocrine disruptors will have to go through a lengthy process of authorization. Applicants for authorization will have to show that there are no suitable safer alternatives.

However doubts are now being raised about

the ability of REACH and the VOC directives to combat all the dangers of poor air quality in buildings, especially in offices and home. This comes amidst growing concerns among regulators, politicians and NGOs, including consumer groups, about the potential long-term harm of some pollutants in interior air.

REACH, whose deadlines for the registration of substances stretches over an 11- year period to 2018, is regarded by critics as taking too long to come fully into effect to deal with the threats of issues like air pollution.

“NGOs are being quite active in targeting chemicals in general but especially those that expose consumers to possible risks from low quality air,” said Jacques Warnon, technical director at the European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists’ Colours Industry (CEPE).

“They claim that more specific legislation may be required which can be implemented more quickly than REACH,” he continued. “But we believe that REACH adequately covers all the potential dangers from air pollutants inside buildings. Companies registering chemicals have to assess any risk from substances, including those which may be emitted from articles or finished products.”

Global warming and the need to reduce energy consumption in order to curb emissions of carbon dioxide has become the main cause of concern about interior air quality.

“It is argued that in order to cut down use of energy, buildings and homes will not be properly ventilated because windows and doors will be kept closed to keep either the cold or the heat out,” said Michael Bross, head of public relations at Verband der Deutschen Lackindustrie (VdL), the German paint industry association.