When I read this statement, it rings a little bell in my brain and prompt me to give you more Heads Up.
Here is a little more info on VOC ( Volatile Organic Compounds ), if your interested in the following long winded post
VOC’s doesn’t mean smell only, it means Organic compounds released over time ( meaning year after year, we are talking longevity here ), and that’s the nasty stuff you need to stay away from.
I will explain.
All paints, silicones, plastics and so on that emit VOC’s can and are toxic to your reptiles, to what degree still remains to be documented.
From past experience, we do know that Corn snakes are particularly sensitive to VOC’s, Autopsies performed on dead animals have revealed serious amounts of VOC’s accumulated in there liver, and being the cause of death.
If we concentrate on the paint issue only, I will put the emphasis on the following.
When you look at any paint product that has any kind of moisture resistant, or mold control ability added into it, that is one important component we call VOC’s ( But it's not limited to this only ), even after it has dried and you can no longer smell it ( right about here is where that little bell rang ), the VOC’s are still present, active and leak out of the paint, companies go to great lengths now a days to ensure there product will have longevity ( it include a lot of products even if they don’t have moisture retardant control added to it ), so it’s easy and safe to assume that the VOC’s will have the same longevity.
Be very careful, even though you can’t smell it, doesn’t mean it’s not there ( again, right about here is where that little bell rang ), think of the lead based paint issues, and what that brought on as a stink.
Want to See / Feel how much VOC’s are emitted in the air from all the products that are around us on a daily basis ( yep, from a Chemist ), ever walked into a store when all the new merchandise has been brought out for the new season, go take a walk in any isle that has a lot of plastic products lined up in it, ever noticed how you get a chocking affect by just being around these new products ( even new clothing have that same but more subtle effect ), that my friends are VOC’s in Full Action.
Remember, VOC’s have longevity, years up on years worth of it
Here is another example " a new home " ( again from a Chemist ), ever walked into a new home and got the choking feeling ?, ever hear about people not being able to live in a new home ?, ever notice how the new carpet smell chokes you ? go take a walk into a carpet store and do the test, try it, I dare you.
Well ! new homes are now becoming very problematic for a lot of people, because of all the new materials being used such as paint, carpets, Drywall and so on, and as time goes by, more and more people are feeling the ill affect of these new and improved products, carpets for instance now have tons of chemicals added to them to make them fire retardant, stain resistant, long lasting and so on.
Drywall is another example, what do you think they add to it to make the product moisture resistant, fire retardant and do on.
My point with the new home is this ( renovated houses included ), not only do we have to be product friendly when we build our enclosures and vivarium for reptiles, but we also have to take the new and renovated home VOC’s into consideration, yes this included the all the paint on the walls and floors, the new carpet and so on.
Here is another Heads Up.
If your set up is in your new painted basement, does that floor have a moisture retardant chemical paint added to it ( as most now a days do ) you also need to take that into consideration.
Nice world we live in !
It’s been made to last a long time, yep ! it’s now fire retardant, moisture resistant, and life shortening.
My final words on all of this is “ Ventilation “ ( Yep, directly from the Chemists again ), you will never have enough air circulation, or transfer of air ( inside out / outside in ) added to a new or renovated house ( it includes the new paint job you did in the spring ).
With out being paranoid, those Chemist sure opened my eyes with all these VOC issues, there nothing more than health hazards and life shortening.
PS : Yep, “ this Old House “ and “ Money Pit “ has a roof turbine / air circulation system, it was added a long time ago, sure glad I did lol