The “better living through chemistry” that the 20th century promised us has not always been the truth. Take, for instance, volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. These are chemicals that easily shift from solid or liquid to vapor. The term “organic” may lead you to believe that VOCs occur naturally, but this really refers to their chemical makeup involving hydrogen and carbon. Most are actually created in laboratories. Some VOCs that you may recognize are known carcinogens such as benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene.
Look around your home—you won’t see the VOCs themselves, but you’ll see plenty of things that contain them. Wood flooring, whether natural or artificial, surely contains VOCs. So too does the upholstery of your furniture and the paint on the walls. The dangers of volatile organic compounds in the home are numerous, and VOCs can affect your body in many ways. Here are some of the concerns you should have and the cautions you should take to prevent their release as best you can.
Breathing Problems
Home products that have been treated with VOCs are designed to be safe at room temperature and low humidity. When those conditions shift, the volatility of volatile organic compounds comes into play. High heat and humidity cause a process called off-gassing, in which products release these VOCs into the air. These compounds commonly cause breathing problems by irritating nose, throat, and lung tissue. Keep your home at manageable heat and humidity levels to avoid releasing and inhaling these chemicals.
Headaches and Nausea
What may seem like a bad migraine or sinus headache may actually be acute exposure to VOCs. Inhalation of volatile organic compounds in spray paints, cleaning solvents, and wood treatments can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. When you’re working with these chemicals, be sure to optimize your ventilation if you cannot work outdoors. The VOCs these products emit can exist in high concentrations.
Eye Irritation
Exposure to VOCs, whether from use of products containing them or household off-gassing, can irritate the eyes, causing dry, red, and itchy eyes. Consider using eye protection if you’re working with solvents and you notice irritation from the fumes. If you can’t identify a source of eye irritation, off-gassing may be the culprit, requiring you to take a serious look at your HVAC system’s ability to mitigate heat and humidity.
Nervous System Damage
Most alarming and severe among the dangers of volatile organic compounds in the home is the neurotoxicity many of these chemicals exhibit. Long-term exposure to VOCs may cause damage to the central nervous system, including recognizable brain damage such as dementia. Avoid long-term use of products containing VOCs in unventilated areas—the serious and irreversible damage is not worth the enjoyment of any hobby.
