Acrylic paints can be used for both exterior and interior applications. “Acrylic” is a broad term that describes several polymers, and acrylic paint formulations vary from 100% acrylic, to a mixture of acrylic, vinyl acrylic, and styrene polymers. This Common Product (CP) describes a white, low-VOC acrylic paint, with a medium sheen (approximately eggshell), that could be used for coating interior surfaces. Low VOC paints included in the scope of this CP contain less than 50 g/L VOCs as defined by the California South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) Rule 1168. This rule is specific to VOCs that contribute to smog formation, thus some chemicals carrying health hazards could be present but would not be counted toward the 50 g/L VOC limit. This CP does not include any colorants that would be added to the paint before its application. These can have a significant impact on the total VOC content of a tinted paint. Historically alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) have been used as surfactants in acrylic paints. This group of chemicals includes nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) and octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEs). NPEs, OPEs, and their breakdown products have all been shown to have endocrine disrupting properties. This research found that some low VOC acrylic paints still contain APEs, but they were not found to be the most common surfactants used among the products surveyed. These findings suggest that the market may be shifting away from the use of APEs in low VOC eggshell acrylic paints. 

This information reflects our best understanding of product composition in 2019. A previous version of this Common Product is available here: https://pharosproject.net/common-products/2203415