Definition
VOC is an acronym for volatile organic compounds. There are over 10,000 chemical compounds that can be classified as VOCs. According to the United States EPA:
"Volatile organic compounds are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. VOCs typically are industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene; fuel oxygenates, such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE); or by-products produced by chlorination in water treatment, such as chloroform. VOCs are often components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry cleaning agents. VOCs are common ground-water contaminants. (epa.gov)"
Examples of VOCs: A good way to think about VOCs is how they contribute to the indoor air quality of your home. The means by which VOCs are released into your home is called off-gassing. Chances are you've experienced off-gassing many times in your life, but maybe you didn't realize it. That new car smell, new mattress smell, air fresheners, surface conditioners, and that obnoxious paint odor. Common VOCs found in household items include benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, and xylene.
VOCs in Paint & Coatings: When painting and finishing projects, VOCs are produced during the application and curing process. Most paints and coatings are designed to evaporate at room temperature, as it creates a chemical reaction with oxygen. During evaporation, the liquids (solvents, oil, latex, etc.) are off-gassing as they dry, releasing harmful VOCs into your home. It is important to arm yourself with knowledge about the chemicals in your home as well as the health risks associated with them.
Health Risks
There are acute (short term) and chronic (long term) health risks associated with being exposed to VOCs. Common health effects include:
Short Term:
- Eye, nose and throat irritation (itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose)
- Skin irritation (rashes, swelling, itchy skin)
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea/vomiting
- Worsening of asthma symptoms
Long Term:
- Cancer
- Liver and kidney damage
- Central nervous system damage
- Elevated blood pressure
Regulations
Many of our customers have experienced these symptoms and have had allergic reactions to the VOCs produced by non-water based products. The bottom line is: VOCs are not good for you. They are especially not good for young children, such as infants, who do not have a fully developed immune system. So why are paint and coatings (and so many other) products easily available to the general public?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) primarily regulates the emission of VOCs into the atmosphere. These regulations are under the Clean Air Act (CAA), but primarily apply to VOCs that photochemically react with the earth's atmosphere to create ozone. In their own words:
"EPA does regulate VOCs in some household products under the Clean Air Act (CAA); however, the regulations that we have promulgated for VOCs in architectural coatings and consumer products are in place only because many VOCs photochemically react in the atmosphere to produce ozone, a component of smog. From the standpoint of indoor air quality, the definition of VOCs and their regulation under the CAA sometimes causes confusion. The reason is that some chemicals that are toxic are exempt from the VOC regulations because they are not considered to be photochemically reactive. Therefore, some products that are labeled as "no VOC" or "low VOC" under the CAA can actually contain volatile organic chemicals that are toxic, sometimes at high levels." (epa.gov)
In summary, the EPA does not regulate all consumer products containing high levels of VOCs because some of them do not highly impact the environment, even if they are detrimental to your health. That means consumers are able to purchase and use highly-toxic chemicals in their homes because it doesn't produce enough smog for the EPA to care.
However, in the United States alone, there are many states and counties recognizing the dangers of VOCs and some are imposing limits on the percentage of VOCs allowed. California, New York, Michigan and now Ohio in 2024 are implementing these regulations. In many other countries in the world, governments have already limited the sale and use of high VOC products, due to health effects like cardiovascular and neurological damage.