The most coveted attributes a sealant can have are durability and imperviousness. A long-lasting seal that won't leak is the purpose of all sealants, so distributors should sell them based on other attributes.

New products that contain little or no air-polluting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) provide an opportunity to offer substitutes for traditional high-VOC items. They are generally less flammable than solvent-bearing products, as well. Sealants that set and cure faster in colder temperatures, and those that are less flammable, are candidates for more sales.

Products that have strong odors generally have a high percentage of VOCs like toluene or xylene, said Igor LeClere, marketing manager for construction and distribution with Bostik Findley Americas, a manufacturer of sealants and adhesives.

"In many areas of the country, especially Southern California, new regulations require reduced VOCs, less than 70 grams per liter," LeClere said. "Developing low- or no-VOC sealants has been a top priority. Some butyl-based [products] have 200 to 250 grams per liter. They will soon be a problem to sell."

Some urethane sealants consist of two parts — isocyanates, the catalyst, and polymers, the sealant material. Isocyanates are widely expected to be toxic, LeClere said.

"They are possible carcinogens. They must be labeled in California and may soon be banned in Europe," he said.

Also on the list of states with strict VOC regulations is New Jersey. According to Jim Gilligan, a salesman for adhesives distributor Springfield Paper Specialties Co. of Dresher, Pa., many sealants will be excluded from sale in the next year because of possible toxicity, he says.

"There are products with lower VOCs that meet regulations, but a lot more that don't," Gilligan said. "I usually get called in when there is a problem, like insurance concerns about flammability or toxicity."

The construction industry is faced with a big problem in "sick house syndrome," Gilligan said. The problem involves people getting chronically ill from what is believed to be chemical sources in their home. Over the last several years, many municipal buildings have also fallen prey to the syndrome, Gilligan said.

"I was at a conference for builders and well over an hour was devoted to sick homes and buildings. It will be a big issue in the next six months and sealants are one of the areas being examined. They are used in floors, underlayment, carpeting, and in cellars," Gilligan said.

He added that the problem is akin to that of pressure-treated outdoor wood products like chairs and swing sets made using cyanide-based chemicals.

"More and more people are looking at the toxicity of those products and lawsuits are becoming the result," he said.

LeClere agrees. The sealant products that are traditionally used in construction, transportation fabrication, and industrial plants will be reformulated.

"The problem becomes a pricing challenge because a product with 30 percent VOC is generally a lot cheaper than one with seven percent," he said. "However, low-solvent and no-solvent sealants crack and shrink less, are low-odor and acceptable to laws throughout the world."

The experts note that hazard characteristics for VOCs listed in Material Safety Data Sheets, like skin and eye irritation, are temporary hazards experienced when material comes into direct contact with the body. The long-term affects are still to be determined.

The proper use of respiratory, eye and hand protection is mandatory when using these sealants. As with all potentially hazardous products, salespeople should be available to advise buyers and users about safety precautions.

Experts recommend offering Material Safety Data Sheets to customers so they can compare and contrast the ingredients and volatility of products. Then, sell on the basis of safety.