VOC EMISSION REDUCTIONS ACHIEVABLE THROUGH NATIONAL PRODUCT-BASED REGULATION OF SURFACE COATINGS Yvonne Scorgie 1 and Judith Greenwood 2 1 Senior Manager, ENVIRON Australia, 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, 2060, Australia 2 Senior Air Policy and Programs Officer, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, 59-61 Goulburn Street, Sydney Australia. Abstract Ozone levels above national air quality standards are recorded within certain Australian cities, highlighting the need to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emissions which constitute ozone precursors. VOC emissions from surface coatings result from evaporation of organics and solvents in both solvent-based and water-based coatings. Application of surface coatings often occurs in places where it is not feasible to control VOC emissions. Internationally, the trend has been towards regulations that limit the VOC content of specific coating products. VOC limits for surface coatings have been implemented by the United States, Europe, Hong Kong and Canada. Australia does not currently have mandated VOC limits for surface coatings. Although there have been voluntary reductions in VOC levels by industry over the past two decades, such reductions may not be sufficient to control VOC emissions from this sector. A national study was commissioned by the Environmental Protection and Heritage Council Standing Committee to characterise Australian surface coatings and assess the environmental benefits of introducing national product-based VOC limits. Key findings of the study are presented including: priority market segments and coating categories given contributions to reactivity-weighted VOCs; potential reductions in VOCs and ozone formation potentials achievable through the implementation of VOC limits; and policy considerations. Outcomes from the preliminary assessment of the technical and economic feasibility of implementing product-based VOC limits are not covered, and the reader is referred to the study report for these findings (ENVIRON, 2009). Keywords: surface coatings tropospheric ozone product-based controls 1. Introduction and Study Objective Surface coatings include paints, enamels, varnishes, lacquers, stains, primers and thinners. Consumers include households, trade painters and industry (e.g. automotive and packaging). Coatings were traditionally dissolved in solvents, which evaporate as ‘volatile organic compounds’, or VOC. Evaporative emissions from surface coatings contribute to ground level ozone formation, with emitted VOCs reacting with ambient NO x in the presence of sunlight. Rates of evaporation and ozone formation rates are enhanced in summer due to the occurrence of higher sunlight levels. Peak ozone levels experienced by most Australian cities are close to or above the ozone standard in the Ambient Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure (AAQ NEPM). Ground level ozone increases rates of disease and mortality, even at levels below the specified standard, with no safe level identified. Climate change is expected to enhance evaporative emissions and ozone formation (Cope, 2009). Internationally, limits on VOC content of surface coatings have been enforced in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong and Canada to reduce ambient ozone levels (CEPA 2009a&b, EU 2004, USEPA 1998, USEPA 2005). Australia does not currently have mandatory VOC limits for surface coatings. Manufacturers have voluntarily reduced VOC levels in certain product ranges over the past 20 years, partly through the Australian Paint Approvals Scheme (APAS) (APAS, 2006). However, voluntary