Aerosol spray paints must use less reactive chemicals, measured by new rules
What happened
US environmental regulators have updated the rules for chemicals in aerosol spray paints. Manufacturers must now use less reactive ingredients that contribute less to smog.
Why it matters
For years, aerosol paint manufacturers could meet air quality rules by simply reducing the total amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their products. This change means they must now consider how reactive those compounds are, not just their volume. This shifts the burden from simply cutting total emissions to actively reformulating products with less harmful chemicals.
The signal
Watch for new product formulations from major aerosol paint brands over the next year, and whether any smaller manufacturers struggle to meet the updated chemical reactivity standards.