What Are VOCs? The Dangers + What You Need to Know

What is a VOC (volatile organic compound)? What do a fragrant rose, a new car, a new home, fresh paint, air fresheners, or new clothes have in common?

All of these things release VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Anything that smells fragrant releases VOCs into the air (usually giving it that “new” or “fresh” smell), even a rose!

While VOCs can come from natural and synthetic sources, inhaling them can be harmful to your health, depending on the chemical makeup, the amount of exposure, and the ventilation in the space.

In this article, you'll learn all about VOCs, including sources, how they impact health, the difference between VOCs and SVOCs, and how to reduce exposure at home.

What Are VOCs?

As we just shared, VOCs can come from natural or synthetic (man-made sources).

Per the Environmental Protection Agency, the official definition of a VOC is: "Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs are organic chemical compounds whose composition makes it possible for them to evaporate under normal indoor atmospheric conditions of temperature and pressure."[1]

VOCs exist outdoors from natural sources and pollution. These VOCs are monitored and regulated by the EPA.

However, VOCs also exist indoors, and this is a more significant cause for concern, especially if ventilation is suboptimal and/or a home contains many synthetic VOC-releasing products.

The EPA cannot measure or regulate VOC levels in homes.

And although we wish they would do more to regulate VOC levels in household products that cause this pollution, as of now it is up to us as consumers to learn about VOCs and how to reduce exposure at home.

VOC Sources: Where Do They Come From?

As you just learned, VOCs can come from natural or synthetic (human-made) sources.

You need only to follow your nose to sense where VOCs are coming from.

While you don't need to worry about most natural scents, like a bouquet of flowers or a Christmas tree, synthetic VOCs should be avoided or reduced as much as possible.

So, where do synthetic VOCs pollutants come from?

According to research, cleaning, fragrances, and laundry products are a primary source of VOC pollutants. 

One study published in the journal Chemosphere conducted air chamber testing of 28 cleaning products, and two air fresheners detected 530 VOCs, of which 193 were considered hazardous![2]

Research suggests the greatest concentration of VOCs in cleaning products comes from bleach-based cleaners, glass cleaners, spray cleaners, disinfectants, ammonia-based cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners.[3]

Scented laundry products, including detergents, fabric softeners, and stain removers, are also a significant source.

Health Effects Of VOCs

The health effects of VOCs are well-documented, and many of them can be serious.

Per the Environmental Protection Agency, VOC exposure can cause various reactions, illnesses, and sensitivities including:[4] 

• Allergic skin reactions
• Brain fog or cognitive impairments
• Damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system
• Dyspnea
• Dizziness
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Headaches
• Loss of coordination
• Nausea
• Nosebleeds
• Respiratory issues, especially for those with asthma or other lung conditions
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting 

Some VOCs are also known or suspected carcinogens.

Long-term exposure to certain VOCs may include an increased risk of asthma, bone marrow disorders, and central nervous system damage.

Synthetic VOC exposure is also a concern for pregnant women, the immunocompromised, people with lung or respiratory issues, babies, and small children.

As you can see, these are not harmless pollutants, especially if inhaled daily for weeks, months, and years.

VOCs Also Cause Sick Building Syndrome

A buildup of harmful VOCs in the home can result in what is called Building Related Illness or Sick Building Syndrome.[5]

Symptoms Of Sick Building Syndrome May Include:[5][6]

• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Irritability
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Brain fog
• Irritated skin, eyes, nose, and throat
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Nausea

Removal of these harmful VOCs often results in rapid relief of symptoms. Beyond the immediate symptoms you might experience from exposure to VOCs, there are longer term effects to human health.

Reducing harmful VOCs (which can be detected by our sense of smell) can be an important immediate and long-term preventative healthcare measure. We'll discuss this more in subsequent sections.

What’s The Difference Between An SVOC And A VOC?

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are aromatic compounds that generally reduce over time by outgassing.

SVOCs (semi-volatile organic compounds) are odorless compounds that ride on dust and increase over time as they are slowly released from materials such as insulation, furniture, certain cookware, pesticides, and many other products.

VOCs may be released into your indoor air from cleaning and personal care products, air fresheners, scented candles, new furniture, new clothes and fabrics, freshly applied paints, finishes, and building materials.

Well-sealed, energy-efficient homes with poor ventilation are especially vulnerable to a toxic buildup of harmful VOCs and SVOCs.

VOCs And Outgassing

Outgassing (also known as offgassing) is the process a material or solution goes through as the VOCs are released into the air.

For example, a new air mattress may have a strong smell when you first unroll and inflate it. The smell you experience is from the VOCs released into the room; this is the smell of the vinyl material outgassing.

As it ages, the air mattress continues to release VOCs into the air until it eventually no longer contains any VOCs.* At that point, the air mattress would smell neutral.

The VOCs that you smell are an indication of potential harm.

Another common example of VOCs is the smell of freshly applied materials, such as paint. After painting, proper ventilation is recommended to flush out the VOCs being released.

How To Reduce VOC Exposure At Home

Although we cannot control VOC exposure in public places, we can take steps to reduce VOC pollution at home (and even at work or school).

Here's how to reduce VOC exposure:

• Become aware of common VOC sources, such as fragrance, cleaning and laundry products, plywood, shower curtains, polyester fabrics, and vinyl or plastic products.
  • Related Reading: Stop Using The F Word
• Avoid any area with fresh VOCs, such as newly painted rooms, areas with new furniture or flooring, an area just cleaned with synthetic cleaners, etc.
  • Ideally, avoid the area until all smell has gone to avoid chemical exposure. You can actually speed up the outgassing of these VOCs by increasing heat and air flow and by putting purchased goods in the sun for a few hours.
• Remove VOC-containing products from your home, such as:
  • Synthetic cleaners
  • Fragrances (plug-ins)
  • Old plywood furniture
  • Vinyl products
  • Synthetic personal care products (especially scented products)
  • Synthetic laundry products

• For cooking and food storage, choose glass or stainless steel rather than plastics and nonstick materials.

•  

  Shop at thrift stores and yard sales to find quality secondhand items that have already outgassed VOCs.

   

• When in doubt, try sunning a new purchase to speed up the outgassing process.

   

  • Many times, just one afternoon in the sun will completely clear (outgas) all harmful VOCs in a material.

• Whenever you encounter VOCs in an indoor environment, you should ventilate the area (open windows and turn on fans) as the VOCs release, which helps you avoid trapping the VOCs in the air you are breathing.

• Choose no or low-VOC paints, building materials, flooring, etc.
  
  • Related reading: 

    The Non-Toxic, Sustainable Building Materials I Used in My Home Renovation

• Open your windows for 10-15 minutes in the morning and evening to remove VOCs and improve indoor air quality.
• Buy clothing, curtains, etc. made from natural fibers as much as possible.
• Clean walls and ceilings a couple times a year to remove VOCs and SVOCs.
• HEPA vacuum regularly and dust to remove VOCs and SVOCs.
• Consider investing in a high-quality air purifier that removes VOCs and/or SVOCs.
  • Related reading: How To Choose An Air Purifier For Your Home
• Think carefully about the use of essential oils, as these are a potent source of VOCs and can cause health problems for some people.
  • If you do use them, choose only the highest quality pure, organic and/or wildcrafted and steam-distilled brands.

*Unfortunately, after a plastic air mattress outgasses all VOCs, odorless SVOCs called plasticizers are still present.

How Do You Test For VOCs?

An item is truly outgassed once it has emitted all VOCs into the air. If you have a good sense of smell, determining if an item still contains VOCs (and therefore is outgassing) is actually easy.

The best way to test a product is to see if it gives off an odor.

Many products you buy at the store have their own VOCs to outgas, or they may have picked up VOCs from the store itself.

Sniff a bag from a major retailer, and you will smell a mix of VOCs coming from various products throughout the store. The bag will likely smell differently than the item you purchased, which has its own VOC profile.

These VOCs easily attach to every item in the store, especially porous ones.

Take Control Of Your Indoor Air Quality And Reduce VOC Pollution

Understanding VOCs is a powerful first step toward creating a healthier home and lifestyle.

While these compounds can be found in everything from cleaning products (but not Branch Basics, of course!) to new furniture, the good news is that you've just learned several practical, everyday steps to reduce your exposure.

By choosing natural and safe products, improving ventilation, and opting for secondhand or thoroughly outgassed items, you can make a meaningful impact on the air you and your loved ones breathe.

Whether it’s swapping out synthetic air fresheners for natural alternatives, investing in a quality HEPA filter, or simply sunning out new purchases (read more in Take Advantage Of Summertime: How To Outgas (Or Offgas) & Remove VOCs), every small change adds up.

Remember, reducing exposure to VOCs is not just about avoiding immediate symptoms but also about safeguarding your long-term health.

How To Use Branch Basics To Remove VOCs And Create A Healthier Home

Branch Basics all-in-one, human-safe, biodegradable, plant- and mineral-based cleaning line can help remove VOCs and SVOCs from your home in many ways.

• Firstly, you'll avoid the #1 source of exposure (bleach-based synthetic cleaning and laundry products) by switching to a naturally fragrance-free, human- and environmentally safe line.
• Second, Branch Basics All-Purpose and Streak-Free solutions can be used to remove SVOCs that ride on dust. 
• Third, Branch Basics has various cleaning protocols in place to remove VOC and SVOC build-up on walls and ceilings and in our deep cleaning and spring cleaning methods.
• Fourth, our refillable system plus the option of glass bottles in our Starter Kits means you'll avoid VOCs that would come in on disposable plastic bottles.

These are just a few examples of how switching to a low-tox, Made Safe Certified, and human-safe cleaning line can help you improve indoor air quality and reduce VOC exposure.

Ready to test out Branch Basics for yourself?

Click here to shop our Starter Kits and start creating a healthier home today.

For more tips on creating a cleaner, healthier living environment, check out our Wellness Center.

Sources Mentioned In This Article:

1: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/technical-overview-volatile-organic-compounds#3

2: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653523018374?via%3Dihub

3: https://iaqscience.lbl.gov/vocs-cleaning-products

4: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality 

5: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1420326X231191079?journalCode=ibeb

6: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7153445/