Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a group of chemicals that easily become vapors or gases at room temperature. They are found in many everyday products, from paints and cleaning supplies to building materials and furnishings. Understanding VOCs is crucial for maintaining indoor air quality, as their presence can significantly impact health and well-being. This document aims to answer frequently asked questions about VOCs, providing insights from Camfil’s indoor air quality specialists to help building managers create safe, healthy indoor environments for employees and guests.
What Are Volatile Organic Compounds?
The term volatility is used in chemistry to describe how easily a chemical or substance vaporizes (turns into its gaseous state without a chemical reaction taking place). The more volatile a chemical is, the easier it is for it to turn into a gas, and the more likely it is to exist as a gas than as a solid or a liquid. The volatility of any given chemical has no specific numerical value or unit of measurement of its own and is instead related to the boiling point and molecular weight of the chemical.
An organic compound is a term used to describe any molecule containing carbon and at least one other element. Volatile organic compounds, therefore, are carbon-based molecules that evaporate rapidly at room temperature. If you have ever handled mineral spirits (benzene), the fumes it emits immediately are the liquid benzene evaporating into a gas; its volatility is advantageous because it leaves no residue, but also presents a potential fire hazard because (as is the case with many other VOCs), it is highly combustible and can catch fire at room temperature.
A vast number of chemical compounds are VOCs but are not considered a significant threat to human health. However, of the 189 chemicals recognized by the EPA as air pollutants, 97 (that’s a little over half) are VOCs.
Common VOCs that Affect Indoor Air Quality
Examples of VOCs commonly found in indoor air include:
- gasoline
- formaldehyde, which is used as a preservative in food, medicine, cleaning products, and cosmetics, as well as in the production of furniture
- benzene, which is used in the production of plastics, resins, dyes, synthetic fabrics, and many more household items
- methylene chloride, which is primarily used in industrial cleaning and paint removal
- ethylene glycol, which is used in the manufacturing of synthetic fabrics and in antifreeze products
- tetrachloroethylene, which is the chemical used for dry cleaning
- toluene, which is used in the production of paints, lacquers, and glues
Camfil Air Filtration Experts Answer Frequently Asked Questions About VOCs
What are the symptoms of VOC exposure?
Short-term exposure to VOCs can result in symptoms including:
- headaches
- skin irritation and itchiness
- dizziness
- nausea
- fatigue
- watering or burning eyes
- nose and throat irritation
- asthma attacks
What are the long-term health effects of VOC exposure?
According to the EPA VOC exposure can exacerbate asthma symptoms and lead to chronic bronchitis, and may also lead to kidney, liver, and nervous system damage depending on the specific chemicals and individual is exposed to. Several VOCs have also been linked to the development of various types of cancer.
Do VOCs negatively affect the environment?
Certain VOCs (such as the 97 that the EPA classifies as pollutants) can pose significant risks to the environment. VOCs react with nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere to form ground-level ozone and smog, an issue that can affect rural and urban areas alike. Ground-level ozone stops plants from being able to open their pores and absorb carbon dioxide, essentially inhibiting their respiratory function, which can cause damage to and even kill plants. This has a significant negative impact on crops and on entire natural ecosystems.
Ground-level ozone is also considered a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
How can I measure VOC levels in my facility?
There are various monitors that can be used to measure VOC levels inside buildings, and the best fit depends on the specifics of your building. Explore VOC monitoring options here or reach out to your local Camfil representative to determine the right solution for your application.
What kinds of air filters can get rid of VOCs?
Although there are thousands of different kinds of VOCs, many of which are benign and naturally occurring, while others are potentially dangerous, most can be targeted by one type of filter because they are all gasses. Filters containing activated carbon and other activated media are effective against molecular (gaseous) pollutants.
Regular maintenance and replacement of filters are essential for optimal performance. By investing in high-quality air filtration systems, facility managers can significantly reduce VOC levels, creating safer and more pleasant environments.
Can I use a HEPA filter to remove VOCs from the air?
No. HEPA filters are highly effective against particulate matter (microscopic solid or liquid particles suspended in the air) but are not designed to capture gases. To target both types of pollution, you may need an air cleaner or purifier or multi-stage filtration.
What emits VOCs indoors?
Concentrations of VOCs can often be significantly higher indoors than outdoors because outdoor air provides natural circulation to disperse pollutants, and because many indoor activities and objects generate VOCs. These include:
- Using cleaning chemicals
- Painting, or using glue or some kind of ink
- Printers and copying machines
- Aerosol sprays
- Off-gassing from furniture
Are air filters the only way to reduce VOC levels indoors?
It is possible to reduce VOC levels by reducing indoor emissions and by improving ventilation and air circulation. Using these two strategies in combination with activated carbon filters is highly effective. Other strategies, such as using indoor plants to combat VOCs, are not as effective; although certain plants can remove small amounts of specific VOCs from the air, they cannot do so quickly enough to keep up with VOC emissions in most indoor spaces. Consult a Camfil expert for help developing the best strategy to reduce VOCs in your building.
About Camfil Clean Air Solutions
For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. That’s why every step of the way – from design to delivery and across the product life cycle – we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control, and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways – so we can all breathe easier.
The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 30 manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 35+ countries, and about 5,600 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at www.camfil.us/
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Lynne Laake
Camfil USA Air Filters
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Sources:
https://www.epa.gov/haps/initial-list-hazardous-air-pollutants-modifications
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality
