When it comes to indoor air quality, there is a silent yet significant factor that often goes unnoticed: Volatile Organic Compounds.
Often referred to as VOCs, these compounds possess the potential to affect your health and well-being without your awareness. Since Volatile Organic Compounds are found in a multitude of common household products and materials, learning how to recognize the signs of VOCs in your home is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment. If you are concerned about VOCs in your home, please contact our expert team at Great Environmental for a comprehensive Indoor Air Quality Test.
If you’re concerned about VOCs in your home, please contact our expert team at Great Environmental for a comprehensive Indoor Air Quality Test.
What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?
Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are a diverse group of chemicals that evaporate into the air at room temperature. These compounds are emitted as gases from common household products, building materials, furnishing, and even outdoor sources like industrial operations.
Typical VOCs found in homes include:
Construction
Lifestyle
Building
Did you know, our Indoor Air Quality test can pick up over 500 of the most common household VOCs to assure your peace of mind.
How Do VOCs Enter Your Home?
Since VOCs are commonly found in household items it’s become an easy mistake to bring them into your home unknowingly. Here are the most common ways Volatile Organic Compounds enter your home:
Household Products
Many everyday household products contain VOCs, even seemingly innocuous items such as candles, cleaners, and personal care items can contribute to the presence of Volatile Organic Compounds in your home.
Fragrances: Personal care products like perfume, colognes, body sprays, and scented lotions contain synthetic fragrances composed of various chemicals, some of which are VOCs. These fragrances are designed to evaporate into the air, however, as these products are applied or sprayed VOCs are released into the air, contributing to indoor air pollution.
Personal Care Items: Aerosol products such as hairsprays, deodorants, and air fresheners, often contain propellants and solvents that can emit VOCs when sprayed. These products are designed to disperse fine mists of active ingredients into the air, but they can also release VOCs along with the desired compounds.
Even nail polish and nail polish removers may contain volatile solvents like acetone and ethyl acetate, which can evaporate into the air and contribute to higher indoor VOC levels.
Candles: Many candles are made from paraffin wax or other petroleum-derived materials. When these candles are burned, they undergo combustion, producing a range of combustion byproducts. Additionally, candles with fragrance additives or synthetic dyes may emit higher levels of VOCs when burned. Even unscented candles can emit VOCs from the wax itself as it melts and evaporates.
Cleaning Supplies: Many household cleaning products contain VOCs. When using these products indoors, especially in poorly ventilated areas, they can release VOCs into the air. Switching to low-VOC or eco-friendly cleaning alternatives can help reduce VOC emissions and keep you safe while you clean.
To minimize your household products contributions to VOC levels ventilate your space frequently and consider choosing organic alternatives made with non-toxic ingredients. Additionally, when using these products be sure you are in a well-ventilated area to reduce indoor air pollution.
Building Materials and Furnishings
Many construction materials contain VOCs as additives or as natural components, these materials include:
Adhesives
Carpets
Insulation Materials
Paints
Particleboard
Plywood
Sealants
Synthetic Fabrics
Varnishes
The level of VOC emissions from building materials can vary depending on factors such as the age and type of a material, manufacturing methods, and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
When these materials are installed, they can release VOCs into them through a process called off-gassing. When you can smell the product or material, it is off-gassing. This occurs as the chemicals present in the materials slowly vaporize, releasing volatile organic compounds into the environment.
Over time, the rate of VOC emissions typically decreases as the materials age and the initial concentration of VOCs diminishes. However, indoor air quality can be adversely affected if VOC emissions are not properly controlled or ventilated, leading to potential health risks for occupants.
If you are planning a home renovation or moving into a new home, be sure to implement a ventilation strategy and choose VOC-free building materials like solid wood, natural stone, ceramic, and glass to avoid long-term exposure to VOC emissions.
Daily Activities
Maintaining a healthy living space for you and your family is important. However, it’s easy to cohabitate with Volatile Organic Compounds without even realizing it.
Cooking: Cooking activities, particularly those involving high temperatures or frying with oil, can generate VOCs. For instance, cooking with gas stoves can produce combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Additionally, certain cooking oils can release VOCs when heated, contributing to indoor air pollution.
Smoking: Tobacco smoke is a major source of VOCs indoors. When smoking occurs, these chemicals are released into the air and can persist long after smoking has ceased, Secondhand smoke exposure poses health risks and can exacerbate indoor air quality issues.
Using Unvented Appliances: Unvented fuel-burning appliances, such as gas heaters, stoves, and fireplaces can emit VOCs and combustion byproducts when in use. Without proper ventilation, these emissions can accumulate indoors and pose health risks, including respiratory irritation and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Hobbies and Crafts: Certain hobbies and crafts involving the use of paints, solvents, adhesives, and other chemicals can introduce VOCs into indoor spaces. Activities like painting, woodworking, and crafting with glues and sealants may release harmful chemicals into the air if not conducted in well-ventilated areas.
How to Identify VOCs in Your Home?
Recognizing the presence of VOCs in your home requires a combination of observation, awareness, and proactive measures. However, these are the main takeaways:
Be mindful of the products you bring into your home.
Use your sense of smell for any unusual odors, especially when using new products or completing a home project.
Ventilate your home by opening windows, doors, and use exhaust fans to allow air to circulate, especially while using products that emit VOCs.
Seek Professional Help: If you suspect significant VOC contamination in your home or experience persistent health symptoms, consider scheduling a comprehensive VOC test with our team. With thorough assessments, we can recommend a unique mitigation strategy to improve the environment of your home.
Concerned about the quality of your indoor air? Schedule a test today.
By understanding what VOCs are, where they come from, and how to identify their presence in your home, you can take proactive steps to minimize exposure and create a healthier indoor environment for you and your family. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize your well-being when it comes to indoor air quality.