What are VOCs?
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) we spend almost 90% of our time indoors. However, indoor air can be 5 times as contaminated as outdoor air. These pollutants include VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), particulate matter, CO2, and more. In this post we will be focusing on VOCs.
Some outdoor sources of VOCs include automobile exhaust, various industrial processes, and smoke from burning wood. Indoors, VOCs may be released into the air by household or office products including personal care items, glue, air fresheners and printers.
VOCs are also frequently produced from the off-gassing of building materials such as wood, carpet, and paint.
Indoor areas are prone to higher levels of VOCs. The EPA has found that indoors can have as much as 2 to 5 times the VOCs as outdoors!
VOCS can have short terms effects such as
– Headache
– Nose, throat, eye inflammation
– Pneumonia, bronchitis
– Couching, painful breathing
– Skin irritation
And have long-term effects such as :
– Cardiovascular diseases
– Respiratory diseases (cancer, asthma)
– Impacts on liver, spleen, blood
– Impact on the reproductive system
– Affects the central nervous system (anxiety, headaches)
Don’t question the air you’re breathing. Contact us today to schedule a demo!
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