What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. These compounds are chemicals that can be found in many commonplace household products, such as paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, and printers. Scented products are often comprised of VOCs. 

Many VOCs are human-made chemicals found in industrial solvents, such as tetrachloroethylene, benzene, or formaldehyde, which evaporate quickly at room temperature when released. Products that contain these chemicals can emit VOCs into the air while you are using them or when they are stored. In fact, concentrations of VOCs are consistently higher indoors - often up to 10 times higher than outdoor spaces. Studies show that using products that contain VOCs exposes individuals to high pollutant levels, and elevated concentrations can remain in the air long after the product has been used.  Breathing in VOCs may not be harmful in small doses, but chronic exposure can result in long-term health effects.

Common Sources of VOCs:

• Paints and paint strippers
• Aerosol sprays, cleansers, and disinfectants
• Moth repellents
• Air fresheners
• Stored fuels and automotive products
• Dry-cleaned clothing
• Pesticide
• Hobby supplies
• Copiers and printers
• Correction fluids
• Carbonless copy paper
• Glues and adhesives
• Permanent markers 
• Building materials (eg. plywood, particleboard)
• Perfumes
• Hair spray 

Health Effects:

Breathing in VOCs may result in health effects including:

• Eye, nose and throat irritation
• Headaches
• Loss of coordination
• Nausea and dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Skin problems
• Fatigue

Most people are not affected by short-term exposure to low levels of VOCs; however, long-term exposure may lead to health effects such as damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system, and/or cancer.

It's important to reduce your exposure to VOCs whenever possible. This may include avoiding smoking/second-hand smoke indoors, choosing household products that emit lower amounts of VOCs, and keeping your home well-ventilated - especially when working with cleaning products and sprays. 

For more tips, check out this article on how to improve the air quality in your home. 

Want to keep an eye on the VOC levels in your home?

That's why we created HAVEN IAQ - a whole-home system that works to improve the air that you breathe. Complete with the HAVEN Central Air Monitor and Controller, this patented system will help you track and improve the air quality in your home. Information, alerts, and reports are available 24/7 at your fingertips on the HAVEN Air app, anytime and anywhere.  

If you're interested in installing a HAVEN IAQ system in your home, speak with your HVAC contractor to book an installation. If your contractor is not currently carrying HAVEN products, they can reach out to us at prosupport@haveniaq.com for more information.