Volatile Organic Compounds
Who doesn’t love the clean, inviting smell of a freshly painted room? Unfortunately, that new paint smell may actually be a concoction of thousands of toxic compounds (known as VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds) that will be hanging around long after the paint has dried. In fact, while off-gassing peaks within the first few hours and weeks, some products release only half of their VOCs within the first year and continue emitting VOCs throughout their life.
Paints are a leading cause for concern, but other contributors of potentially harmful, man-made VOCs (as opposed to natural VOCs produced by trees and vegetation) include:
Spray paint, varnishes, paint thinners and paint strippers
Preservatives in cleaners and disinfectants
Cosmetics, colognes and hair spray
Nail polish and nail polish remover
Pesticides
Moth repellents
Office supplies like correction fluid and carbonless copy paper
Office equipment like photocopiers and laser printers
Glues and adhesives
Fiberglass and foam insulation
Wood preservatives
Glues, finishes and waxes used in paneling, plywood and other pressed wood products
Fire retardants
Air freshener
Carpeting and vinyl flooring along with the adhesives used during their installation
Furniture upholstery
To make matters worse, some of these products release toxic organic compounds into our household air even when simply stored in their sealed containers.
Combined, common, household products consistently raise indoor air pollution levels 2 to 10 times what we’re exposed to in even highly industrialized outdoor locations. And because many of us are indoors for the majority of our day, poor indoor air quality has been linked with a wide range of both health problems.
Some ill effects of exposure to VOCs, such as irritation of the eyes, skin, nose or throat, headaches, nausea, fatigue or dizziness may subside quickly but others can be chronic and much more severe, including kidney and liver damage, impaired brain function and an increased risk of cancer.
