V-O-C is not another Seattle Grunge Band

 by Thomas Hirsch

Hey!  

Yo!

V-O-C’s causes S-B-S and gives you M-C-S…a huh, a huh.

No, V-O-C (or VOC for short) is not another Seattle Grunge Band.  It is just another acronym in our acronym rich society.  This one pertains to the quality of our air, particularly indoor air.  Since we spend most of our time indoors, perhaps we ought to learn a little bit more about this one. Volatile Organic Compounds or VOC’s are substances that readily release vapors at room temperature.  This evaporation of volatile compounds contained in solid material is called outgassing and results in the slow release of chemicals into the air.

I’m finding some confusion in the field about what exactly VOC’s are and what the environmental and health impacts are.  From some I get cynicism stating they have used a particular product or method for years with no apparent ill effects. Others in the building industry claim their projects are “green” simply because they are using low-VOC paint or other products. Yes, that is a start.  Low-VOC this or that does not a “green” project make.  That is another issue to be addressed in a future installment.

Are you getting comfortable with the VOC acronym yet?  I hope so.  It is probably here with us to stay.  What may confuse us somewhat is the fact that VOC contains the word “organic”.  This sounds sort of benign doesn’t it?  After all, we are encouraged to grow and eat organic food.  Since we have a language consisting of words that can have multiple meanings, we are being asked to stretch a bit.  One meaning of the word organic is relating to or containing carbon compounds.  Remember Chemistry 101?  Organic compounds are chemicals that contain carbon-hydrogen bonds at the molecular level.  Organic compounds can exist in the form of gas, liquid or solid particles.   Right now we are concerned with those substances that readily release vapors at room temperature.  These substances can occur naturally or be synthetically derived from petrochemicals like oil, gas or coal.  Naturally occurring VOC’s from wood resins, plant oils and waxes are less harmful and decompose readily in nature’s cycle.  Still, some chemically sensitive individuals may react to these compounds and should test them before using.  It is the synthetically derived substances which produce VOC’s that pose a significant health risk.

"At present, about 80,000 synthetic organic compounds are commercially available and thousands more are produced annually by the chemical industry.  VOC’s constitute a major source of toxic overload and can threaten individual health.  Any organ of the body can be affected.  Some of the more common complaints include rashes, headaches, eye irritation, chronic cough, chronic sinus infections, joint and muscle pain, memory loss, inability to concentrate, irritability, fatigue, anxiety, depression and allergies.”  (1)

The worst and most prevalent VOC’s in our homes are formaldehyde, organochlorines and phenolic compounds.  You all remember the smell a new house, carpet or automobile interior. Often many are present at one time and a cumulative, synergistic effect can occur that we are just beginning to understand.   Some VOC’s, like formaldehyde, act as a sensitizer that can lower the threshold of allergic reactions.  Formaldehyde is used in hundreds of building materials and household products such as carpeting, fabrics, cosmetics and engineered wood products. 

Compounds of hydrocarbons and chlorine, called organochlorines, are quite toxic and potential carcinogens.  These are usually found in pesticides, solvents, cleaning fluids, and of course polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s).  Dioxin is one if the most dangerous by-products of the chlorine industry and PVC production.  It has been determined to be unsafe at any detectable amounts.  There are European countries that have been phasing out PVC manufacturing for several years now.

 Below is a list of common products containing VOC’s:

• Plywood/OSB

• Paints

• Wood paneling

• Finishes

• Carpets and carpet pads

• Adhesives

• Insulation

• Synthetic fabrics

• Insulation

• Cleaning supplies

• Permanent press treatment of natural fabrics

• Cosmetics

• Dry cleaning solvents

• Mothballs and other insecticides

• Air-fresheners

• Aerosols

• Art supplies