Could the materials in your home be releasing harmful chemicals into the air you breathe? In part one of this two-part interview, Andy Pace exposes the hidden toxins in your walls, floors, and furniture—volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Andy explains how modern energy-efficient designs have contributed to “sick building syndrome,” why “zero VOC” labels and certain air-purifying methods don’t always mean healthier air, and how off-gassing continues long after that new paint smell fades.
From the history behind the green building movement to choosing the best low-toxin materials, this episode is filled with expert tips to help you create a healthier home even for the most chemically sensitive residents. If you want clean indoor air, it’s time to get nosy about VOCs and HAPs!
Episode Highlights:
- When did the green and healthy building movements start, and why? (3:43)
- What are VOCs and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)? (9:00)
- What are the different types of VOCs and how do they enter our homes? (14:58)
- What is formaldehyde, and how does it get into homes? (22:47)
- What health effects do VOCs cause, and how can those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) or Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) reduce exposure? (27:27)
- How did Andy get involved with healthy building materials? (33:38)
- What do “green,” “healthy,” “natural,” and “greenwashing” mean in building materials? (40:16)
- Can you reliably test for VOCs, and how can you reduce exposure to VOCs and other HAPs? (45:28)
- Does “baking-out” or ozone help reduce VOCs? (54:19)
- What are safer paint and flooring options? (1:01:56)
Download the transcript here.
Links Mentioned in Interview:
AFM Safecoat paints: https://afmsafecoat.com
Keim mineral paints: https://keim-usa.com
Additional research on health effects of 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:
The Green Design Center: https://www.thegreendesigncenter.com
Non Toxic Environments Podcast: https://www.thegreendesigncenter.com/non-toxic-environments/
Learn more about Change the Air Foundation:
https://www.changetheairfoundation.org