What are Volatile Organic Compounds?

If you read this blog, you’re likely to hear a lot about volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. It occurred to me that not everyone knows that VOCs are. Or maybe, like me, you’ve read about them, but the terminology that you came across is so scientific that it’s nearly impossible to make any sense of.

So here’s a breakdown of volatile organic compounds in common English.

In short, VOCs are just gasses that are emitted from substances that contain carbon. For example, paint contains carbon. As the paint dries, a gas is emitted. That gas contains volatile organic compounds.

You are most likely to hear about VOCs in paint – however there are lots of other household items that contain them as well. Many paint strippers, sealers, glues, and even some household cleaners contain VOCs.

As consumers, it’s important to know what ingredients are included in the products that you are using. It’s especially important to know if the products that you are using contain volatile organic compounds because there are many health risks associated with breathing them in.

The health risks vary greatly depending on how sensitive you are and the level of VOCs present in your home. Immediately after painting or using paint stripper, the level in your home could be more than 10X that of what is in the air outdoors. Some people can experience eye, nose, and throat irritation. Some people can even experience headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Basically, one person in your home could not be outwarly bothered by the presence of VOCs while another could be very affected.

While it’s impossible to get away from them completely, it’s definitely wise to know what they are and to do what you can to reduce your exposure to them. Luckily, there are lots of companies that are providing alternatives that have reduced or even no VOCs.

As you look for home products and cleaning goods, especially paint, paint strippers, and cabinets and other items that contain glue – take the time to ask about volatile organic compounds. The lower the levels, the better.

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