California Air Resources Board

SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board (ARB) announced today that it has reached a $225,000 settlement with Macco Adhesives, owned by The Glidden Company, for their role in distributing in 316,231 units of Liquid Nails Clear Small Projects & Repair Adhesive with volatile organic compound emissions that exceeded clean air regulations.

"ARB worked with industry to establish these limitations," said ARB Executive Officer, Catherine Witherspoon. "Controlling emissions of volatile organic compounds from these products does not reduce their effectiveness yet protects the health and economy of California."

During an inspection ARB enforcement officers discovered that Macco Adhesives had supplied, offered for sale, and manufactured for sale in California 316,231 units of their Liquid Nails Clear Small Projects & Repair Adhesive product with an amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC) that exceeded limits set by regulation. California limits the amount of VOCs in consumer products because once VOCs are emitted into the atmosphere they react with other pollutants and sunlight to form ground-level ozone and particulate matter (PM 10), the main ingredients in smog. 

Ozone exposure is associated with symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and the worsening of asthma symptoms. Particulate matter is among the most harmful of all air pollutants. When inhaled these particles evade the respiratory system's natural defenses and lodge deep in the lungs. Health problems begin as the body reacts to these foreign particles and can increase the number and severity of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate bronchitis and other lung diseases, and reduce the body's ability to fight infections. Reducing VOC emissions from consumer products therefore plays an integral part in ARB's effort to reduce smog in California.

All monies are being paid to the California Air Pollution Control Fund (APCF). The APCF was established to mitigate various sources of pollution through education and the advancement and use of cleaner technology. This fund uses compliance settlement fees to support various pollution-related research projects and related programs. The Legislature controls the use of the APCF through the annual Budget Act.