Do VOC detections automatically mean that harmful effects will occur?
No. The presence of “detectable” volatile organic compounds (VOCs) does not mean that harmful human-health effects will occur because detections were often at low concentrations that were well below benchmarks that are protective of human health. U.S. Geological Survey’s analytical methods are designed to measure low levels of VOCs-sometimes parts per trillion. By this approach, the USGS national assessment helps to identify emerging issues and to establish a framework to track changes in concentrations over time, and it provides a comprehensive screen for the types of VOCs we can expect to see in different settings and areas of the country.
