EPA reports shows VOC (volatile organic compounds) which originate from particular solids and liquids are at an increased high indoors versus outdoors.

The reason there is such concern about VOC is due to the emitted gases are being linked to several health issues including both short term and long term effects. Through the help of public awareness manufacturers are educating the public on steps to reduce organic exposure.

Some of the most common products we use in our home such as paints, cleaning chemicals used in bathrooms, kitchens, markers, glues and various adhesives, copiers and printers even the carbonless copy paper are huge VOC offenders. Listed on the website of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a complete list of VOC (volatile organic compounds). What is interesting is that  VOC compounds are not only being released during time of use, but have also been found to continue discharging during storage.

“Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (Team) Study” developed by EPA’s Office of Research and Development indicate “while people are using products containing organic chemicals, they can expose themselves and others to very high pollutant levels, and elevated concentrations can persist in the air long after the activity is completed.” Exposures to these organic compounds are having a devastating impact on people’s respiratory systems such as the nose, eyes, and throat. VOC is being linked to causing mild to severe headaches, nausea, damage to internal organs and affecting the central nervous system.

Healthknot.com reports that exposure to organic compounds or ”toxins” can affect any body function, which further backed TEAM’s study. Healthknot.com further breaks down specific organic compounds which affect the human body such as “Benzene” is positively linked to leukemia; styrene to a variety of neurological symptoms, that include numbness, loss of sensation, paralysis, convulsions, toxic encephalopathy (brain fog), mood swings, memory loss, as well as arrhythmia, weakness, fatigue, spastic colon or asthma; vinyl chloride to immune suppression, genetic damage, cancer…; PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and their derivatives to developmental impairment, cancer…; tuolene to brain fog, mood swings, learning disability, brain and liver damage, heart attack, depression, muscular atrophy…; trichloroethylene to confusion, headache, dizziness, cognitive impairment, muscle cramps (to leukemia as a drinking water contamination)” These are just a few examples of how exposure whether to short term or long term VOC’s can affect a person.

With compiling evidence that VOC is proving to be harmful, manufacturers are beginning to create products with lower VOC such as paints which offer low to zero VOC emissions. Cleaning products are starting to take a more natural base reducing to eliminating organic compound levels. Product labels are listing more and more product ingredients helping consumers know what they are using. For more information on VOC compounds go to http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html or http://www.healthknot.com/voc.html.