Is there a reliable way to find out which VOCs are lingering in your indoor air, and in what amounts? Sarah Mack of Enthalpy Analytical joins us to explain how to test for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), how to interpret the results, and what to do about their presence in your home. Sarah breaks down the differences between VOCs, SVOCs, and VVOCs, and outlines common sources and health effects of chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and household cleaners. You’ll learn why total VOC (TVOC) numbers can be misleading, how your body’s ability to detoxify may influence symptom presentation, and how removal, containment, and dilution can make a big difference in your indoor air quality.
Whether you’re chemically sensitive or seeking to improve your overall well-being, this interview will equip you with tools and science-backed strategies to make safer choices as you take control of your indoor air quality.
Episode Highlights:
- What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and how do they differ from semi-volatile (SVOCs) and very volatile organic compounds (VVOCs)? (2:24)
- Why is formaldehyde a concern, and where is it found in our homes? (4:33)
- Why isn’t formaldehyde always included in VOC testing? (6:31)
- Which VOCs show up most often in residential lab tests? (7:45)
- What are Total VOCs (TVOCs), and what do they reveal about air quality? (11:07)
- Are there limits set for VOC levels indoors? (13:57)
- What are common indoor sources of benzene? (15:50)
- What health effects occur with high indoor VOC levels? (16:39)
- What are MVOCs? (18:48)
- How can you test your home for VOCs, and what can testing tell you? (20:04)
- Sarah explains sample lab reports. (23:06)
- What steps can you take to reduce VOC exposure? (32:02)
Download the transcript here.
Links Mentioned in Interview:
The Truth About VOCs, Greenwashing, & Healthy Homes: Part 1 Interview With Andy Pace: https://changetheairfoundation.org/the-truth-about-vocs-greenwashing-and-healthy-homes-part-1/
Flame Retardants, Formaldehyde & Your Indoor Air Interview With Lara Adler: https://changetheairfoundation.org/flame-retardants-formaldehyde-your-indoor-air/
What’s That Smell? mVOCs & Mold Interview With Jason Earle: https://changetheairfoundation.org/whats-that-smell-mvocs-mold/
The Hidden Dangers of Moldy Smells Interview With Dr. Joan Bennett: https://changetheairfoundation.org/the-hidden-dangers-of-moldy-smells/
Start Here tab: https://changetheairfoundation.org/mold-water-damage/
Building for Health Interview With Andy Pace: https://changetheairfoundation.org/building-for-health/
Understanding Air Cleaners & Purifiers Interview With Carl Grimes: https://changetheairfoundation.org/understanding-air-cleaners-purifiers-with-carl-grimes/
Ventilation Designs for Healthy Homes Interview With Corbett Lunsford: https://changetheairfoundation.org/ventilation-designs-for-healthy-homes/
Additional Research on VOCs and HAPs:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, March 30). Most recent national asthma data. 15 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 1, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ asthma/most_recent_national_asthma_data.htm.
“Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 19 19 Apr. 2017, www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-airquality#Health_Effects.
Hudnell, H. Kenneth, David A. Otto, Dennis E. House, and Lars Mølhave. "Exposure of Humans to a 20 Volatile Organic Mixture. II. Sensory." Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal: 31-38..
Norbäck, Dan, et al. "Asthmatic symptoms and volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and carbon 21 dioxide in dwellings." Occupational and environmental medicine 52.6 (1995): 388-395.
"OSH Answers Fact Sheets." Government of Canada, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and 22 Safety..
Greenberg, Mark M. "The central nervous system and exposure to toluene: a risk 23 characterization." Environmental research 72.1 (1997): 1-7.
Challenor, J., and D. Wright. "Aggression in Boat Builders: A Search for Altered Mood States in Boat 24 Builders Exposed to Styrene." Occupational Medicine (2000): 185-92.
Bolla, K. "Neuropsychological Assessment for Detecting Adverse Effects of Volatile Organic 25 Compounds on the Central Nervous System." Environmental Health Perspectives. U.S. National Library of Medicine..
Chang, Ta-Yuan, Kuei-Hung Huang, Chiu-Shong Liu, Ruei-Hao Shie, Keh-Ping Chao, Wen-Hsin Hsu, 26 and Bo-Ying Bao. "Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds and Kidney Dysfunction in Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) Workers." Journal of Hazardous Materials: 934-40..
Villeneuve, Paul J., et al. "A case-control study of long-term exposure to ambient volatile organic 27 compounds and lung cancer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada." American journal of epidemiology 179.4 (2014): 443-451.
Eldesouki, Mohamed A, Nevin E Sharaf, Alia A Abdel Shakour, Mervat S Mohamed, Amal S Hussein, 28 and Ibrahim W Hasani. "Study of the Effect of Occupational Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) on Male Reproductive Hormones." World Journal of Medical Sciences 8.1 (2013): 6-12.
Cherry, Nicola, et al. "Occupation and male infertility: glycol ethers and other exposures." Occupational 29 and environmental medicine 65.10 (2008): 708-714.
Kampa, Marilena, and Elias Castanas. "Human health effects of air pollution." Environmental 31 pollution 151.2 (2008): 362-367.
Get in Touch with Our Guest:
Home Air Check: https://www.homeaircheck.com
Enthalpy Analytical: https://enthalpy.com
Sarah Mack’s email: [email protected]
Learn more about Change the Air Foundation:
https://www.changetheairfoundation.org