Top 5 Harmful VOCs in Indoor Air

If you’re not familiar with volatile organic compounds or VOCs, one of the first things that you need to know is that these chemicals are very dangerous. The word ‘organic’ is somewhat of a misnomer. These are not natural by-products of a healthy environment. They’re things you should look out for.

Instead, they’re chemicals that lurk in man-made products. From carpets to pieces of furniture, you can find them inside. They also lurk in other consumer goods like toys or kitchen implements or cabinets.

And they are things that you should look out for in terms of indoor air quality. These VOCs can cause a range of human health problems that you can find more severe and difficult to treat than just allergies. For example, if you’re experiencing eye irritation, scratchy nose and throat, or trouble breathing (or headaches), you might be exposed to some of these items in your indoor air. 

Guidance on Contaminants

Let’s break down the top five most dangerous VOCs according to some of the expert sources that advocate for human health. Keep in mind that one solution for these contaminants, in the form of adsorption through activated carbon. Many modern air purifiers have this feature, which can remediate these kinds of particles in the air. But it’s important to use an air monitor. Not all of these VOCs have odors to warn you that you’re getting exposed. So even if you don’t smell anything, you can be at risk. 

Top Five Dangerous VOCs

Look out for all of these in your indoor air:

Formaldehyde

When you see the word formaldehyde, you may think about science projects in a lab and the kinds of experiments that people did in high school in the 1980s.

But formaldehyde is a preservative that gives off numerous harmful toxins. It may actually be in a good number of building products and consumer goods.

For example, formaldehyde was there in alarming levels in the Chinese drywall that companies exported to the U.S. in the early 2000s. Contractors used this type of drywall after hurricanes, where we saw supply shortages, and after investigations, crews remediated many homes with it.

More on Formaldehyde

That’s just one example of how formaldehyde can infiltrate indoor air. 

But you can find formaldehyde in lots of other materials, too! You can also find it in certain kinds of presswood products, paints, and coatings. You can find it in carpets, in rugs, in curtains, or in various kinds of tools and furnishings, even new items with woven materials, like mattresses. The types of things that people used to make with cotton (linens, mats, etc.) may now be vinyl or polymers, which is another place that formaldehyde can lurk. (see more in the CDC’s formaldehyde fact sheet.)

So how does it make you feel? Well, formaldehyde can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. It’s also potentially a carcinogen. Different people experience the symptoms differently. You may feel mild or even stronger itching or burning in your eyes, or break out in hives. You might get headaches, or feel slight trouble breathing. Too often, you might find these problems hard to diagnose – because you may not be thinking about where these toxins can be! We talk to people who spent weeks or months trying desperately to figure out where the itchiness or stinging or coughing was coming from, only to find, at the end, that these volatile elements had crept in and contaminated their homes. 

Formaldehyde is a big one, but here are some more of the usual suspects…

Benzene

Benzene is a bad one: a known carcinogen that can lead to blood disorders. Short-term exposure can cause symptoms like, but not limited to dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Benzene can come from tobacco smoke, vehicle exhaust, or various kinds of products like adhesives.

Toluene

Experts have linked toluene to problems like neurological damage, liver and kidney damage, and headaches. You can find it in some types of paints and solvents, as well as adhesives and, commonly, nail polish.

Xylene

Xylene can also irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and the skin, too, with topical irritation. Scientists have linked it to liver and kidney damage with long-term exposure. You can also find this in vehicle emissions and paints. It’s also sometimes in varnishes and similar products.

Trichloroethylene

You mostly find this in industrial degreasers, cleaning products and adhesives. This compound is more commonly known as TCE. There are pretty strong warnings out there regarding exposure to the chemical. TCE can cause pregnancy issues, and even birth defects. It’s known to be a carcinogen (see more at this EPA resource.)

These VOCs can be highly toxic, even at low concentrations. Ventilation is important with products using substances containing these ingredients.

Dealing with VOCs

Obviously, the best way to prevent harm from these top five VOCs is to make sure they don’t get into the building in the first place.

You should also do detailed research when selecting carpeting or flooring products. The same is true for doing a renovation. Think about this when bringing various types of mass manufactured consumer goods into your home.

Dealing with Off-Gassing

You can even use the option of off-gassing materials outside of your living space prior to bringing them inside. Many of these items will off-gas most of the toxic material during a certain time frame after they are taken out of their original packaging.

However, you can also use an air monitor to see what’s lurking in your indoor air. Then you can use air purifier machines to remediate VOCs and other contaminants.

Air purifiers help with the top five VOCs, but they also help with dust mites, pollen, pet dander, mold and more. A good medical grade HEPA filter is 99.97% effective for .3 micron, where a stronger HEPA is rated for being 99.99% effective for .1 micron. The best models vary depending on your desired use: for example, the Airpura V714 is excellent for strong VOC protection, through quality carbon and a Super HEPA for powerful ultrafine filtration, while the Austin Healthmate Plus boasts a powerful combination filter with carbon and a medical grade HEPA. Models like the Allerair Pro 5 Vocarb HD carry a great value for cost. 

Take a look at all of the effective air purifiers available for you, and US Air Purifiers LLC will help with warranty, pricing information, and much more. You can get a surprising amount of air purification for a small amount of money; just a few hundred dollars can help you make a solid investment in terms of your health and the health of your family.

Let US Air Purifiers help with all of your air purification concerns.