I recently painted my apartment with low VOC (volatile organic compounds - the stuff that smells bad in paint) paint. I got the American Pride line in custom colors at the Environmental Home Center (http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com/) in Seattle, but I believe a number of major paint manufacturers (Behr, Sherwin Williams, etc) now make low VOC paints, too. They're not too expensive - about $25 a gallon, and possibly cheaper elsewhere. White paint of this variety, I believe, is no more difficult to use than regular paint. I'd guess if you're covering a bright color, you'd need to use primer or several coats. I was quite happy with the paint I used - it didn't smell bad at all, and looks great. It's only been 6 months, so I can't speak to longevity.

Thanks!