Dangerous VOC Levels: Health Impact & Safety Guide

VOC stands for "volatile organic compound." Sounds lovely, right?

VOCs are gases that are released from solid and liquid products. They're fairly common in things like furniture, gasoline, or construction materials. Not all of them are harmful, but many could have negative effects in the short and long term. They're certainly not something you want to breathe if you can avoid it. But what level of VOC is dangerous?

If this sounds scary, don't fret! Once you understand what VOCs are, it becomes easier to deal with them. That's why we're here today: to talk about VOCs, where they come from, and how you can handle them using modern solutions.

Health Effects of Exposure

VOCs are often found in building materials, mattresses, and paint, among other things. While these aren't exactly known for their gentle aroma, their stench will usually be the worst thing most people experience. However, some people, such as those with conditions like asthma, may have more severe experiences:

Short-term Exposure Symptoms

It's not unheard of to have eye, nose, and throat irritation when you breathe in VOCs. Other potential symptoms include headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing. This is obviously unpleasant, but it will pass if you distance yourself from the irritant.

Long-term Health Risks

Sometimes, repeated exposure to VOCs can have long-lasting health risks. Certain VOCs can cause damage to organs such as the kidneys or liver. Some VOCs can cause damage to the central nervous system, while others may cause cancer.

Understanding VOC Concentrations

So now we understand that VOCs are bad, but we also know that they can be found almost anywhere. What level of VOC is dangerous in indoor air? Well, let's take a look at how we measure VOCs:

Measuring VOCs in Parts Per Million (ppm)

How do we tell what level of VOC is dangerous? Ppb (parts per billion) and ppm (parts per million) are the two main units we use to measure them. They tell us how many molecules of VOC there are for every billion or million molecules of everything else. For example, if there are 1,000,005 molecules in the air and five of them are VOCs, the VOC level is 5 ppm.

Acceptable Levels of VOCs

A VOC level of 3 ppm is the limit of what is considered acceptable. Below this, you're probably fine. If it's higher, you may be at risk of the health effects we mentioned earlier. Of course, the higher it is, the worse the effects could be.

Factors Influencing VOC Metrics

There are environmental factors that have a hand in the area's level of VOCs. These are a couple that stand out:

Temperature and Humidity

VOC levels are known to increase in conditions of high humidity and/or temperature. In fact, the changing of the seasons causes a VOC level variability of about 34%. This means that they tend to be worse in the summer, so it may be worth planning accordingly.

Ventilation and Air Circulation

If air is allowed to flow through a room, it will carry the VOCs out eventually. If there isn't enough ventilation, the VOCs will pile up and their effects will get worse over time. Confined places like closets are particularly vulnerable to high VOC levels. This is just another reason to keep an eye on your indoor air quality.

Identifying High VOC Levels

There are ways to tell if there are VOCs among you. Some are high-tech, others less so. Let's go over them:

Signs of Elevated VOCs

Trust your nose! A lot of products that emit VOCs are known for their unpleasant odor. If a chemical or adhesive has a particularly strong scent, it may be pouring VOCs into the room.

Testing for VOCs in Indoor Air

How do you detect the less obvious VOCs? Easy: use VOC sensors! There are a few different types, but all are designed to give you precise readings and alert you to harmful VOC levels.

Reduce VOC Levels with These Safety Measures

So now we know what VOCs are, how bad they are, and how to tell how many there are. Now, we finally answer the question: What can you do about it? Fortunately, there's a lot you can do! Let's dive in:

Choosing Low-VOC Products

The first step to eliminating VOCs is to not bring them in at all. Some products tell you their VOCs per liter, so choose products in which this figure is lowest.

Improving Ventilation

As we mentioned before, rooms with poor air circulation are vulnerable to high VOC levels. Make sure your air conditioning is clean, working, and unobstructed, and the wind will carry the VOCs away. Opening windows is another option, unless there's something going on out there, like construction, that's producing the VOCs in the first place.

You can also use air fresheners and air purification systems to deal with VOCs. Since they're gasses, carbon filters are the way to go.

Regular Cleaning and Maintenance

Your ventilation systems collect a lot of bad stuff. Over time, it builds up and obstructs them, which means they can't do their job. If you detect high VOC levels and aren't sure where they came from, this may be the cause. Make sure to treat your filtration systems to perform regular cleaning and maintenance, and they'll be back at it again.

Importance of Monitoring VOC Levels

VOCs might be invisible disease machines, but there's plenty you can do about them. Before you can, however, you need to know what you're dealing with and how best to tackle it.

If your mission is to improve your indoor air quality (IAQ), Attune has you covered. Our IoT monitoring systems give you real-time indoor air quality metrics, including your current VOC levels, in all corners of your space. This lets you identify the source and tackle it.

It's not just VOCs that affect your IAQ, but also germs, bacteria, and humidity, among other things. Attune handles them all, on top of energy consumption, water usage, and more!

The VOCs are mobilizing, so don't wait to build your defense. Schedule a demo with Attune today and enter a world of clean indoor air!