What are Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are chemicals used in the manufacture of certain building materials, interior furnishings, cleaning products, and personal care products. “Volatile” implies that these chemicals evaporate, or get into the air easily at room temperature. That makes them an indoor air concern. Studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other researchers have found that VOCs are common in the indoor environment and that their levels may be ten to thousands of times higher indoors than outdoors. There may be anywhere from 50 to hundreds of individual VOCs in the typical modern-day home. Many VOCs are irritants and can cause headaches, eye, nose and throat irritation, and dizziness. Long-term exposure to certain VOCs might lead to chronic diseases or cancer. At high concentrations, some VOCs are toxic.
