HEALTHY AIR USA 
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs)

- TOXIC CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES -
WHAT ARE VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs)?

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that evaporate at room temperature, releasing gases into the air around you. They come from hundreds of everyday products — and because modern homes are built to be energy-efficient and well-sealed, VOCs have nowhere to go.

The result? Indoor VOC concentrations are consistently found to be two to five times higher than outdoor levels — even in rural areas. In homes with fresh paint, new flooring, or recently cleaned surfaces, that number can spike to ten times higher or more.

Short-term exposure causes irritation and fatigue. Long-term exposure to certain VOCs — including formaldehyde and benzene — has been linked to liver and kidney damage, nervous system effects, and cancer.

vocs

- LEARN MORE ABOUT VOCs -
COMMON SOURCES OF VOCs

You don't have to live near a factory to be exposed to VOCs. Everyday products and materials are constantly off-gassing into your living spaces — often without any detectable smell. Cleaning and fragranced household products are the most consistent and widespread source of VOCs in homes, followed closely by paints and new furniture, carpets or building materials.

Paints & Finishes

Interior paints, varnishes, lacquers, and sealants release VOCs during application and for weeks afterward, even after the smell fades.

Combustion Sources

Gas stoves, fireplaces, candles, and cigarette smoke release a complex mixture of VOCs and particulates directly into your living space.

Office Equipment

Printers, copiers, and markers emit benzene and toluene. Combined with poor ventilation, office VOC levels can rival or exceed those in homes.

Furniture & Flooring

Pressed wood products, laminate flooring, and upholstered furniture contain adhesives and resins that continuously release formaldehyde and other chemicals.

Cleaning Products

Disinfectants, air fresheners, and aerosol sprays introduce VOCs into the air. Many "clean-scented" products are significant contributors.

Personal Care Products

Hairsprays, perfumes, nail polish, and dry-cleaned clothing all introduce VOCs that linger in enclosed spaces with limited air exchange.

- BE AWARE -
SIGNS THAT VOCs MAY BE AFFECTING YOUR HEALTH

Many symptoms of VOC exposure are easy to dismiss as everyday ailments — until you notice they improve when you leave the building. If you or your family experience any of the following regularly while at home or at work, your indoor air quality may be the cause.

Headaches that appear or worsen indoors

Fatigue or difficulty concentrating at home or work

Worsening allergy or asthma symptoms indoors

Symptoms that improve significantly after being outside

Eye, nose, or throat irritation without an obvious cause

Nausea or dizziness in specific rooms or buildings

Skin irritation or rashes without a clear trigger

Children or elderly family members showing sensitivity

CONCERNED ABOUT EXPOSURE TO VOCs? 

CONTACT HEALTHY AIR

- LEARN MORE ABOUT -
COMMON VOCs TO KNOW BY NAME

The biggest and most common source of VOCs in homes isn’t just one thing—it’s the everyday products you use and store indoors, especially cleaning supplies and household chemicals.

If your home has recent renovations, frequent cleaning/product use, or an attached garage, those are usually the biggest drivers behind these specific VOCs showing up indoors.

Running a car in a garage is one of the most significant ways VOCs get into a home, especially if the garage is attached. When a car engine runs (even briefly), it releases a mix of pollutants that include VOCs like benzene, toluene, and xylene, along with carbon monoxide. These gases don’t just stay in the garage—they can seep into the house.

vocs healthy air

Benzene

A major industrial chemical that comes from petroleum, used to create plastics, resins, nylon, synthetic fibers, rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, and pesticides.

  • Gasoline fumes (attached garages, stored fuel)
  • Tobacco smoke
  • Paints, solvents, and some plastics
  • Vehicle exhaust drifting indoors

This one is more concerning long-term because it’s linked to cancer risk.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is used in various forms for a variety of industrial manufacturing processes.  It has been used in producing the glues that hold wooden boards together, in dyes and treatments of clothing garments, and in cleaning and disinfectant supplies.  Formaldehyde is also a byproduct of some biological processes and can be found in low concentrations in biological systems – including humans.  Exposure to formaldehyde has been documented to produce irritation to the skin, nose, throat, and eyes.  High levels of exposure, or when an individual is sensitive to formaldehyde has been shown to produce headaches along with the nose, throat, and eye irritations.  Formaldehyde reacts quickly with the body’s tissues, which is the reason that the nose, throat, skin, and eyes are irritated upon exposure.

Both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have guidelines for exposure to formaldehyde.  Because each of these organizations provides recommended exposure limits for industrial settings – typically 8-hour workdays – not for residential settings, Healthy Air has chosen to use the lower of the exposure limits for guidance.  The NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit is 0.016 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hour period (Time Weighted Average, TWA) and a maximum of 0.1 ppm for a 15-minute exposure 

Often, the biggest indoor VOC source is from building materials, especially in newer or recently renovated homes.

  • Pressed-wood products (particleboard, MDF, plywood cabinets/furniture)
  • New flooring, carpets, and insulation
  • Glues, adhesives, and some fabrics (wrinkle-resistant finishes)
  • Tobacco smoke
  • Certain paints and coatings

Xylene

  • Paints, varnishes, and lacquers
  • Fuel and exhaust fumes
  • Adhesives and sealants

Often shows up alongside toluene in similar products.

Ethylene glycol

  • Antifreeze (car coolant, garage storage leaks/spills)
  • Some cleaning products and de-icing solutions
  • Certain paints and inks

More dangerous if ingested, but vapors can still affect indoor air if spills occur.

Toluene

Common during DIY projects or renovations.

  • Paints, paint thinners, and coatings
  • Adhesives and glues
  • Nail polish and removers
  • Printing inks and some cleaning products

Acetone

  • Nail polish remover
  • Some cleaning products and degreasers
  • Paint thinners
  • Also produced in small amounts naturally by the human body

Usually a short-term exposure issue unless heavily used.

- THE HEALTHY AIR USA WAY -
OUR VOC SCREENING PROCESS

KNOW

Our screening identifies specific VOC compounds present in your space, not just whether "something" is there. Different compounds carry different risks. VOCS are measured by taking continuous samples with a MultiRAE LITE meter and walking from room to room in the accessible areas. A built-in pump draws air samples into the device and across the PID sensor.

REPORT

Healthy Air USA provides a written report with their VOC concentration findings range in the parts per million

Please Note: Both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have guidelines for exposure to formaldehyde.  Because each of these organizations provides recommended exposure limits for industrial settings – typically 8-hour workdays – not for residential settings, Healthy Air has chosen to use the lower of the exposure limits for guidance.  The NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit is 0.016 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hour period (Time Weighted Average, TWA) and a maximum of 0.1 ppm for a 15-minute exposure

ACT

With a detailed report in hand, you can address the actual sources — rather than guessing or spending money on solutions that may not help.

Common remediation solutions for VOCs are:

  • Improving ventilation
  • Air purification recommendations
  • Source removal and product replacement guidance
  • Post-remediation re-screening to confirm results

 - WE'RE HERE TO HELP -
CONTACT HEALTHY AIR USA

Call Healthy Air USA today or complete the form. A Healthy Air USA representative will contact you to discuss the symptoms you are experiencing, signs that mold in your environment may be the cause, and how Healthy Air USA's services may help.

CONTACT HEALTHY AIR USA

Proudly serving the greater metro Atlanta area

Call Us at 770-205-1710

Monday - Friday: 8AM to 5PM

 

 

COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW