V-O-C is not another Seattle Grunge Band
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 addressed elsewhere in these articles.
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. This is surely good news since these substances are virtually ubiquitous in our culture. Some manufacturers are now beginning to include information reporting parts per million (PPM). Lower numbers are preferred of course. Some substances are unsafe at any level but mostly we really don’t know. Add this to the list of other stressors in our life and it can all get overwhelming. Fortunately for us, there are safe product substitutions for all of the above. We have to only look a little harder to find them. Below are listed some great places to start. Happy shopping!
Below is a list of common products containing VOC’s:
- Plywood/OSB
- Permanent press treatment of fabrics
- Paints
- Cosmetics
- Wood paneling
- Dry cleaning solvents
- Finishes
- Mothballs and other insecticides
- Carpets and carpet pads
- Air-fresheners
- Adhesives
- Aerosols
- Insulation
- Art supplies
- Synthetic fabrics
- Cleaning Supplies
- Insulation
References and Resources:
- Institute for Bau-Biologie and Ecology (727) 461-4371 Seminars, consultation and correspondence courses www.bau-biologieusa.com
- Prescriptions for a Healthy House, Paula Baker-Laporte, et.al.New Society Publishers, 2001; www.econest.com Lists safe building material options
- Architectural Resource Guide Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility, 1998 Edited by David Kibbey, (510) 273-2428 Lists safe building material options
- Home, Safe Home: Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Everyday Toxics and Harmful Household Products, Debra Lynn Dadd, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc. 1997
- Clean and Green: A Complete Guide to Non-Toxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping ;Annie Berthold-Bond, Ceres Press 1994
- The Alternative Building Sourcebook: Traditional, Natural and Sustainable Building Products and Services; Fox Maple Press 1998, Edited By Steve Chappel
- Eco-Building Products, Traverse City, Michigan; www.eco-buildingproducts.com
- There are many local & mail order outlets offering healthier alternatives. Like anything, buyer beware. Some products are not what they claim and you may not always know what the “numbers” mean. Generally speaking, less processed is better.