Total Volatile Organic Compounds

What is Volatile Organic Compound?

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature. While most people can smell high levels of some VOCs, other VOCs have no odor. Odor does not indicate the level of risk from inhalation of this group of chemicals. The term "total volatile organic compound" or "TVOC" concentration refers to the resulting concentration of multiple airborne VOCs; however, different measurement methods can result in obtaining substantially different TVOC concentrations for identical VOC mixtures.

Sources of VOCs found indoors

Building Materials: Carpets and adhesives; Composite wood products; Paints; Sealing caulks; Solvents; Upholstery fabrics; Varnishes; Vinyl Floors.

Home and Personal Care Products: Air fresheners; Air cleaners that produce ozone; Cleaning and disinfecting chemicals; Cosmetics; Fuel oil, gasoline; Moth balls; Vehicle exhaust running a car in an attached garage.

Behaviours: Cooking; Dry cleaning; Hobbies; Newspapers; Non-electric space heaters; Photocopiers; Smoking; Stored paints and chemicals; Wood burning stoves.

Factors affecting concentration of VOC found indoors

  • Amount of VOCs in a product
  • Rate at which the VOCs are released
  • Volume of the air in the room/building
  • Ventilation rate or the area
  • Outdoor concentrations of VOCs

Possible Health Implications

Short-Term (Acute) to high levels of VOCs: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; Headaches; Allergic skin reaction like a rash; Difficulty breathing; Nausea and/or vomiting; Nosebleeds; Fatigue; Dizziness; Loss of coordination; Confusion.

Long-Term (Chronic) to high levels of VOCs: Increased risk of: Cancer; Liver damage; Kidney damage; Central Nervous System damage.

Factors that determine sickness risk

  • The concentration and amount of the chemical as well as its ability to evaporate into the air
  • Personal characteristics such as age, gender, weight, general health status
  • Method of exposure to the chemical - breathed or on the skin
  • Exposure to one or a variety of chemicals
  • Length of time of exposure.   In general, the longer the exposure, the more risk. Health problems caused by VOCs can either be acute, which occur immediately or within a few days of exposure, or they can be chronic, which are long-term health effects that might not show up for many years.

Singapore National Environment Agency recommends that the maximum threshold level for total volatile organic compounds should not exceed 3ppm, based on "Guidelines for Good Indoor Air Quality in Office Premises".

Other links on VOCs:

 http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/voc/
http://www.aerias.org/DesktopModules/ArticleDetail.aspx?articleId=131
http://www.inive.org/medias/ECA/ECA_Report19.pdf
http://eetd.lbl.gov/ied/sfrb/voc-introduction.html

Need Professional Assistance?

Please feel free to contact Mr Charn @ Tel: 6241 9443/ Hp: 9321 9321, Mr. Moshood Hp: 93225506 or email mof@iaqsg.com if you are interested in having your indoor air tested or audited to monitor and control VOCs level in your indoor environment.