VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds, Indoor Air Quality and Respiratory Health

I knew virtually zero about this problem. I still know virtually zero, but at least know I'm aware it is a 'real' problem.

It's amazing how some form of pollutant is introduced into our lifestyles by everything we touch, no matter how careful we try to be about what we buy.

It's also amazing that the powers that be who are supposed to be there to protect us - especially from things not commonly known about - have left a loophole allowing producers to exploit safeguards, i.e. the pre-colour testing. Yep, good one again, there boys!

Interesting article.

Steve N. Lee
author of eco-blog www.lionsledbysheep.com
and 'What if...?', an eco-suspense thriller with a philosophical twist.

This was a good introduction to VOCs, but could you please do a more thorough follow up set of stories? Something like your "How to be green in_" series?

One of my frustrations in dealing with things like VOCs is that there is little advice on how to deal with them. I know that paint can be bad for you, that your couch maybe killing you and household cleaning chemicals are the devil (I figured that one out on my own when I accidentally splashed some cleaner in my eye). But I don't know how to address this Eco-BogeyMan.

I understand the advice on what sort of paints to use, but what if my room is already painted with a VOC paint? Will a new layer of no VOC paint stop the off gassing? Are there any other steps I can take along with the "open door" policy? I realize this isn't TH's fault as there is little practical information on the EPA website, but I don't want to be afraid and ignorant of the subject. Too often when I ask about chemicals or plastics all I hear back is that I should just take what the big companies say and the opposite will be true. That sort of "advice" is worthless to me and doesn't help in living a healthier more eco-friendly life.

Anyways, good introductory article! Please follow up with more.

In response to the other comments: The reason why there is little real information in this article (besides scare phrases like "concentrations of VOCs can be up to 1,000 times greater indoors than out!") is because there is little evidence that these chemicals pose a real danger is small quantities. 1000 times of almost nothing is still almost nothing. I am a Chemistry teacher and very into saving the planet but this VOC stuff sounds like just an uninformed buzzword to introduce un-needed worry into the real issues.

Give us the real facts. Can VOC's in paint cause acute reactions in people who are allegic to them? Yes, but so can things like peanuts and milk (even the sun!). Have some of these chemicals been linked to chronic helth effects? Yes, but it would likely take many years of exposure to freshly painted (and unventilated) rooms to cause any noticable problems. They're called volatile because they vaporize quickly (look up the definition) and they tend not to stick around too long. Does the production of low-VOC paint reduce the impact to the environment like bamboo or recycled flooring does? In most cases no, and it usually costs more. So why is low-VOC considered green when it doesn't really save the environment or money?

My advice would be to focus your time and money on more important ecological problems. Low VOC paints are good to prevent breathing vapors while you paint, but I would rather just open a window and focus on reducing my carbon footprint. A few hundred grams of VOC's do a lot less damage to the environment (and my health) than the tons of CO2 (and other VOC's) removed by installing a couple of solar panels. My solar thermal system also saves me $2000 a year at current propane prices, so I'd much rather put my time and money into those.

I am probably much better informed about what VOC's are and their effects than most, including these "green consultants". I'm not saying these chemicals aren't harmful and I agree that we would be better off without them. I'm just saying I would rather see the paint factories spend millions on solar or wind power, than millions on reformulating their paint mixtures. The same goes for individual consumers looking to improve the environment. It's about doing the little things that make big differences first, then doing the little things that make little differences, especially when you're on a budget.

How to calculate voc in paints?

VOC's are important and a step is being taken in the right direction by EU regulation, but they are not the be all and end all of what makes paint ecological. Big brand paint companies are jumping on the green bandwagon by suddenly claiming their products are eco because they have no nasty smells and minimal VOC, but they are still very much based on petro chemicals. It is far more important to talk about proper , sustainable paints based on vegetable polymers than just focusing on VOC's. Natural Paints like Auro, Aglaia, Biofa and Nutshell. are leading the way here.