Latex Paint and Allergies

Q. Does latex paint pose a threat to those who suffer from latex allergies?
A. No, latex paint is not made with latex rubber; in fact the name “latex” is really just a decorative way to describe rubber-based paint. Latex paint is a carefully formulated polyvinyl material with acrylic resin and has never contained natural rubber; it is natural rubber that causes an allergic reaction, so people who have sensitivity to latex products are in no danger of having a reaction to latex paint.

STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL PAINT & COATINGS ASSOCIATION
Latex Paint Does Not Pose a Threat to Those Who Suffer from Latex Allergies

The National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) would like consumers to know that the type of latex found in latex paints is not the same type of latex found in products that trigger latex allergies. A report aired on ABC television’s “20/20” on March 14, 1997, noted that commonly-used products containing latex have caused allergic reactions ¾ sometimes severe ¾ in approximately one to six percent of the population. These allergic reactions have most commonly been associated with surgical gloves and other natural latex products worn close to the skin. The key distinction for latex in paint is that it is generally synthetic (polymerized from various monomeric materials, principally vinyl acetate and various acrylates) and dispersed in water. By contrast, the latex used in other products is usually naturally derived from rubber tree sap and contains, among others, hydrocarbon polymers and proteins. In particular, the protein component of natural latex is regarded as the likely cause of allergic reactions. Because of these and other differences, consumers need not be concerned about using latex paint and developing the allergic reactions that have been associated with natural latex.

For more information, NPCA recommends that interested parties read and review the U.S. Centers for Disease control (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-135 entitled “Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex in the Workplace” (see http://www.cdc.gov/Niosh/latexalt.html).