Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Many people consider their home the safest place in the world. Yet this isn’t always the case.

Poor air quality, caused by any number of pollutants, can have adverse health effects that can dramatically affect the quality of life. Some of the most common pollutants found in the home are volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals that are emitted from many different sources & are up to 10 times more harmful indoors, especially for children.

Many households products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs):

Plastics
Paints, solvents & lacquers
Furnishings-(flame-retardant foams & fabrics, rugs & carpeting)
Mattresses
Building supplies-(plywood, composite wood products, laminates, resins, adhesives & home insulation)
Cleaning supplies & mothballs
Candles & air fresheners

In high concentrations, VOCs can be dangerous to human health when they enter the lung or touch the skin. Overexposure to VOC emissions can lead to respiratory problems & cause lung damage, but other issues that can result from exposure to excessive chemical emissions include :

Eyes, nose & throat irritation
Headaches, loss of coordination, fatigue, dizziness & nausea
Liver, kidney, lung & central nervous system damage
Furthermore, VOCs have been found to cause cancer in animals, particularly in the lungs. And it’s suspected they may have the same effects in humans, although clinical studies have yet to clearly define the link.

Don’t panic; you can easily remove VOCs from (or reduce them in) your home. The first step is to store products containing VOCs outside the house, such as an outdoor shed or the garage.

If you need to use a product that has VOCs, various air filtration options can decrease consumption & manage your health.

If you’re convinced that completely ridding your home of hazardous chemicals is the way to go, many green or VOC-free products are available as alternatives.

Consider the following list of ways to improve your indoor air quality:

Open the windows to improve the quality of your indoor air.
Use plants to absorb VOCs. Many studies support the ability of plants to reduce VOCs. Here are the top plants to buy based on the type of VOC you want to remove and the amount of sunlight required:
- English Ivy
  - Thrives in low sunlight
  - Absorbs formaldehyde (carpeting, curtains, plywood, particle board furniture and adhesives)
- Peace Lily
  - Adapts well to low light but is poisonous to pets
  - Rids air of the VOC benzene (paints, furniture wax and polishes) and acetone (electronics, adhesives and some cleaners)
- Lady Palm
  - Tree-like species
  - Targets ammonia (cleaners, textiles and dyes)
- Boston Fern
  - One of the most efficient air purifying plants for formaldehyde according to study published in HortScience
  - Requires moisture and humidity to thrive
  - Removes formaldehyde (carpeting, curtains, plywood, particle board furniture and adhesives)
- Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
  - Thrives in low light
  - Lowers carbon dioxide and rids air of formaldehyde and benzene
- Spider Plant
  - Easy to grow
  - Reduces formaldehyde and benzene
Purchase air cleaners/purifiers specially designed to reduce VOCs like benzene and formaldehyde. Not all air cleaners are designed to eliminate VOCs so read Air Purifier Ratings and Reviews before purchasing. Or use the EnviroKlenz HVAC air filter for fresher air without an air purifier.
Install drywall that absorbs VOCs. AirRenew drywall absorbs VOCs for 75 years even when finished and painted with most paints up to 25 coats. It works by capturing the VOCs, converting the VOCs into inert compounds and safely storing the inert compounds within the drywall/gypsum board. It also provides enhanced moisture and mold resistance. The product has been validated by UL Environment and has been certified by Greenguard Indoor Air Quality. For more information, go to www.airrenew.com. Unless you are renovating or building new, it may not be practical to redo your entire home, but it could make sense to do the bedrooms and nursery.
Reduce the sources of the VOCs. There are many things you can do to reduce the sources of VOCs in your home.