Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemical contaminants that, at significant levels, can be harmful to human health and the environment. VOCs are volatile, meaning that they evaporate readily, and organic, which means that they contain carbon atoms. There are several exceptions that do not fall under VOC categorization, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, ammonium carbonate, and carbon compounds designated as having minimal photochemical reactivity by the EPA.¹ Some VOCs are harmful on their own, while others are harmful when they react with other gases.² VOCs can be released into the air from wide-ranging activities, from industry to agriculture and transportation, and even as a result of daily household activities.³ This is problematic because their deleterious health effects range from respiratory issues, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, to nausea, damage to the central nervous system, and even cancer.⁴ The World Health Organization groups VOCs into several sub-classifications according to their volatility: very volatile organic compounds (VVOCs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs).⁵

VOCs affect indoor air quality, as they can be released from many building materials, household products, and furniture. These include wet-applied products, like paints, adhesives, caulks and sealants, varnishes, and solvents, which particularly affect workers who might inhale or come into direct contact with these substances.⁶ Other VOC-containing building materials include composite wood products, glues, flooring, and carpeting. Household products include plastics, cleaning products, air fresheners, pesticides, cosmetics, and deodorants.⁷ VOCs are particularly of concern to vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and people with asthma.⁸

There are no standardized industry-wide requirements for VOC emissions, but there are several certification and labeling programs that test materials and products used in indoor environments. These programs establish limits for VOC emissions based on their effects on human health, safety, and comfort.⁹ Among these are California’s CDPH/CHPS 01350, which lays out requirements for paints and coatings, flooring, insulations, adhesives, and sealants, and CARB (California Air Resources Board), which specifies limits for ultra-low-emitting or no-added formaldehyde resins. Recognized VOC standards for other materials include Green Label Plus (for carpets, cushions, and adhesives), BIFMA (for furniture), GREENGUARD (for indoor air quality), AHSRAE (for heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration), and FloorScore (for flooring).

1. The Environmental Protection Agency: Technical Overview of Volatile Organic Compounds  
2. The American Lung Association
3. US Geological Survey – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
4. The American Lung Association
5. The Environmental Protection Agency: Technical Overview of Volatile Organic Compounds
6. Parsons School of Design’s Healthier Materials & Sustainable Building Certificate Program
7. The American Lung Association
8. US National Library of Medicine
9. The Environmental Protection Agency: Technical Overview of Volatile Organic Compounds
10. The Environmental Protection Agency: Technical Overview of Volatile Organic Compounds