Why You Need to Stop Using Products with VOCs Today

Despite how prevalent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have become, the average consumer still doesn’t know much about them, including what VOCs are, where they come from, and what makes them harmful. What makes this an even bigger problem is that VOCs are much more common than most people realize, and many people are exposed to them on a daily basis.

Arm yourself with this basic knowledge about VOCs in order to make your living spaces healthier for you and your loved ones.

What Are VOCs?

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are compounds that are easily able to become gases or vapors. Many VOCs are toxic and cause harm to humans if inhaled or touched with direct skin contact. Here are examples of well-known VOCs that can commonly be found in homes:

• Formaldehyde
• Acetone
• Butanal
• Dichlorobenzene
• Ethanol
• Toluene
• Benzene
• Terpenes

Where Can VOCs Be Found?

VOCs enter the air from burning fuel sources (wood, coal, natural gas, gasoline, etc.) and are also released from a number of products that you can find around the average American home. For example, wallpaper, furniture polish, and nail polish remover are known to release acetone. Some carpeting can release benzene.

Cleaning and deodorizing products are the most infamous household sources of VOCs. Ethanol is released by a number of laundry and dishwasher detergents and glass cleaners. Air fresheners that are not composed entirely of natural ingredients produce VOCs including terpenes, benzene, xylene, ethanol, toluene, and formaldehyde. Contrary to what their name implies, air fresheners’ concentration of VOCs actually makes them terrible for your home’s indoor air quality.

What Health Effects Are Associated with Exposure to VOCs?

Exposure to VOCs can result in a number of negative health effects. If you have short-term exposure to VOCs, you may experience effects such as:

• Dizziness
• Headaches/migraines
• Nasal/throat/eye irritation
• Vision problems
• Memory problems

If you have long-term exposure to VOCs, you may also experience effects such as:

• Loss of coordination
• Central nervous system damage
• Liver damage
• Kidney damage
• Cancer

Tips for Reducing Your Exposure to VOCs

• Remember when shopping that labels can be deceiving. Even products that claim to be “green” can contain a number of toxic chemicals.
• When looking for adhesives and paint, try to find options free of benzene.  
• Instead of using products with acetone or alcohol, opt for water-based alternatives.
• Instead of mothballs, repel moths with cedar chips or bags of lavender.
• Use glass over plastic whenever possible. When plastic is necessary, make sure it’s BPA-free.
• Opt for soaps and cleaning products made from all-natural ingredients (like baking soda or distilled white vinegar) or plant-based ingredients.

At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, all of our products are bio-safe, and all of our methods are bio-friendly. We do not use any toxic chemicals, and our cleaning systems produce superior results for better indoor air quality and healthier living conditions.