know what you breathE - An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from
certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which
may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many
VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.
VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.
Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies,
pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as
copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and
craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and
photographic solutions.
Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household
products. Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many
cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products. Fuels are
made up of organic chemicals. All of these products can release organic compounds
while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored.
EPA's Office of Research and Development's "Total
Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Study" (Volumes I through IV,
completed in 1985) found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to
be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the
homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas. TEAM studies indicated
that while people are using products containing organic chemicals, they can
expose themselves and others to very high pollutant levels, and elevated
concentrations can persist in the air long after the activity is completed.
Sources
Household products including: paints, paint strippers, and
other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and
disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive
products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing.
Health Effects
Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of
coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some
organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause
cancer in humans. Key signs or symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs
include conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic
skin reaction, dyspnea, declines in serum cholinesterase levels, nausea,
emesis, epistaxis, fatigue, dizziness.
The ability of organic chemicals to cause health effects
varies greatly from those that are highly toxic, to those with no known health
effect. As with other pollutants, the extent and nature of the health effect will
depend on many factors including level of exposure and length of time exposed.
Eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders,
and memory impairment are among the immediate symptoms that some people have
experienced soon after exposure to some organics. At present, not much is known
about what health effects occur from the levels of organics usually found in
homes. Many organic compounds are known to cause cancer in animals; some are
suspected of causing, or are known to cause, cancer in humans.
Search EPA's Integrated
Risk Information System (IRIS) (a compilation of electronic reports on
specific substances found in the environment and their potential to cause human
health effects)
EPA's Office of Drinking Water regulations - List of Contaminants
and Their MCLs: Organic Chemicals
Review information on VOCs in water sources developed by the
U.S. Geology Survey's National
Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program and their Toxic Substances
Hydrology Program: Toxic
Program Research on VOCs
Levels in Homes
Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2
to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. During and for several hours
immediately after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be
1,000 times background outdoor levels.
Steps to Reduce
Exposure
Increase ventilation when using products that emit VOCs. Meet
or exceed any label precautions. Do not store opened containers of unused
paints and similar materials within the school. Formaldehyde, one of the best
known VOCs, is one of the few indoor air pollutants that can be readily
measured. Identify, and if possible, remove the source. If not possible to
remove, reduce exposure by using a sealant on all exposed surfaces of paneling
and other furnishings. Use integrated pest management techniques to reduce the
need for pesticides.
Use household products according to manufacturer's directions.
Make sure you provide plenty of fresh air when using these
products.
Throw away unused or little-used containers safely; buy in
quantities that you will use soon.
Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Never mix household care products unless directed on the
label.
Follow label instructions carefully.
Potentially hazardous products often have warnings aimed at
reducing exposure of the user. For example, if a label says to use the product
in a well-ventilated area, go outdoors or in areas equipped with an exhaust fan
to use it. Otherwise, open up windows to provide the maximum amount of outdoor
air possible.
Throw away partially full containers of old or unneeded
chemicals safely.
Because gases can leak even from closed containers, this
single step could help lower concentrations of organic chemicals in your home.
(Be sure that materials you decide to keep are stored not only in a
well-ventilated area but are also safely out of reach of children.) Do not
simply toss these unwanted products in the garbage can. Find out if your local
government or any organization in your community sponsors special days for the
collection of toxic household wastes. If such days are available, use them to
dispose of the unwanted containers safely. If no such collection days are
available, think about organizing one.
Buy limited quantities.
If you use products only occasionally or seasonally, such as
paints, paint strippers, and kerosene for space heaters or gasoline for lawn
mowers, buy only as much as you will use right away.
Keep exposure to emissions from products containing
methylene chloride to a minimum.
Consumer products that contain methylene chloride include
paint strippers, adhesive removers, and aerosol spray paints. Methylene
chloride is known to cause cancer in animals. Also, methylene chloride is
converted to carbon monoxide in the body and can cause symptoms associated with
exposure to carbon monoxide. Carefully read the labels containing health hazard
information and cautions on the proper use of these products. Use products that
contain methylene chloride outdoors when possible; use indoors only if the area
is well ventilated.
Keep exposure to benzene to a minimum.
Benzene is a known human carcinogen. The main indoor sources
of this chemical are environmental tobacco smoke, stored fuels and paint
supplies, and automobile emissions in attached garages. Actions that will
reduce benzene exposure include eliminating smoking within the home, providing
for maximum ventilation during painting, and discarding paint supplies and
special fuels that will not be used immediately.
Keep exposure to perchloroethylene emissions from newly
dry-cleaned materials to a minimum.
Perchloroethylene is the chemical most widely used in dry
cleaning. In laboratory studies, it has been shown to cause cancer in animals.
Recent studies indicate that people breathe low levels of this chemical both in
homes where dry-cleaned goods are stored and as they wear dry-cleaned clothing.
Dry cleaners recapture the perchloroethylene during the dry-cleaning process so
they can save money by re-using it, and they remove more of the chemical during
the pressing and finishing processes. Some dry cleaners, however, do not remove
as much perchloroethylene as possible all of the time. Taking steps to minimize
your exposure to this chemical is prudent. If dry-cleaned goods have a strong
chemical odor when you pick them up, do not accept them until they have been
properly dried. If goods with a chemical odor are returned to you on subsequent
visits, try a different dry cleaner.
Standards or Guidelines
No standards have been set for VOCs in non industrial
settings. OSHA regulates formaldehyde, a specific VOC, as a carcinogen. OSHA
has adopted a Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) of .75 ppm, and an action level
of 0.5 ppm. HUD has established a level of .4 ppm for mobile homes. Based upon
current information, it is advisable to mitigate formaldehyde that is present
at levels higher than 0.1 ppm.
Additional Resources
Indoor Air
Fact Sheet No. 4 (revised) - Sick Building Syndrome (PDF) (4 pp., 38 K, about
PDF)
Explains the term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) and "building related illness" (BRI). Discusses causes of sick building syndrome, describes building investigation procedures, and provides general solutions for resolving the syndrome.
Explains the term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) and "building related illness" (BRI). Discusses causes of sick building syndrome, describes building investigation procedures, and provides general solutions for resolving the syndrome.
Indoor
Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals
Assists health professionals (especially the primary care physician) in diagnosis of patient symptoms that could be related to an indoor air pollution problem. Addresses the health problems that may be caused by contaminants encountered daily in the home and office. Organized according to pollutant or pollutant groups such as environmental tobacco smoke, VOCs, biological pollutants, and sick building syndrome, this booklet lists key signs and symptoms from exposure to these pollutants, provides a diagnostic checklist and quick reference summary, and includes suggestions for remedial action. Also includes references for information contained in each section. This booklet was coauthored with the American Lung Association, the American Medical Association, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Assists health professionals (especially the primary care physician) in diagnosis of patient symptoms that could be related to an indoor air pollution problem. Addresses the health problems that may be caused by contaminants encountered daily in the home and office. Organized according to pollutant or pollutant groups such as environmental tobacco smoke, VOCs, biological pollutants, and sick building syndrome, this booklet lists key signs and symptoms from exposure to these pollutants, provides a diagnostic checklist and quick reference summary, and includes suggestions for remedial action. Also includes references for information contained in each section. This booklet was coauthored with the American Lung Association, the American Medical Association, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Paints and Coatings (these resources are illustrative,
not exhaustive)
"The Chemistry of Paint" Better Homes and Gardens,
DIY Advice. www.diyadvice.com/diy/painting/paint/chemistry/
American Coatings Association
(formerly the National Paint and Coatings Association)
1500 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 462-6272 / Fax: (202) 462-8549
Website: www.paint.org/index.htm
(formerly the National Paint and Coatings Association)
1500 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 462-6272 / Fax: (202) 462-8549
Website: www.paint.org/index.htm
OSHA's Safety and Health topics page on Health Hazards in Nail
Salons: The more than 375,000 nail technicians working in salons across
the U.S. face possible health hazards every day. The hazards include exposure
to chemicals from glues, polishes, removers, and other salon products; muscle
strains from awkward positions or repetitive motions; and risk of infection
from contact with client skin, nails, or blood. OSHA's Safety and Health topics
page on Health Hazards in Nail Salons gives important information about these
hazards and the steps that nail salon workers and employers can take to prevent
injuries and illnesses.
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