Science / Medicine : Latex Paint Poses Mercury Hazard

Walls painted with latex paint that was manufactured before August can give off enough mercury to be potentially harmful, especially to children, a federal report warned last week in the New England Journal of Medicine. A study found four times the normal level of mercury in the bodies of people whose homes were painted inside with latex paint that contained mercury as a preservative.

Because of the problem, the Environmental Protection Agency prohibited adding mercury to paint after Aug. 20. Paint manufactured before the ban can still be sold, however.

Experts estimate that until recently, about one-third of all interior latex paint contained varying levels of mercury. It was added to paint to prevent fungal and bacterial growth and to prolong shelf life. Oil-based paint does not contain mercury.