The federal government proposed Saturday to cut back on chemicals behind paint fumes, which are Canada's second-largest contributor to smog after vehicle emissions.
Known as volatile organic compounds (VOC) -- they are responsible for the chemical smell on a just opened can of paint and are found in everything from nail polish to vehicle coatings.
Environment Minister John Baird announced the plan to reduce the amount of smog-causing additives in household and commercial products, in front of a backdrop of paint cans at an Ottawa hardware store.
"It's hard to imagine that painting your house or refinishing your vehicle actually contributes to smog," he said. "But these actions do just that."
The government plans to reduce VOC emissions in three areas:
- Consumer products, including nail polish, adhesives, caulking, shaving cream and deodorant;
- Architectural coatings, including paints, stains and varnishes; and,
- Automotive refinishing products, including coatings and surface cleaners used in vehicle refinishing or repairs.
VOC emissions contribute to smog when they are released into the atmosphere, combining with other elements to form ground-level ozone and particulate matter.
The 30 per cent cut in VOC emissions is expected to cost the industry about $200 million.
"We acknowledge we're part of the problem, now we're taking action to fix it," Jim Quick of the Canadian Paint and Coatings Association said.
But environmentalists were quick to ask what took the government so long to take action.
"We could have had this done 10 years ago if government had been willing to push harder on industry," John Bennett of Climate for Change said.
The government estimates Canada's VOC emissions in 2005 totalled 1,383 kilotonnes.
The proposed regulations would take effect in 2010.
With a report from CTV's Graham Richardson and files from The Canadian Press
