VOC | aquastep

Volatile organic compounds

Volatile organic compounds (Low VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapour pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions. Their high vapour pressure results from a low boiling point which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air. An example is formaldehyde, with a boiling point of –19 °C (–2 °F), slowly exiting paint and moving into the air.

VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. They include both human-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds. Most scents or odours are of VOCs. VOC's play an important role in communication between plants.[1] Some Low VOC's are dangerous to human health or cause harm to the environment. Anthropogenic VOC's are regulated by law, especially indoors, where concentrations are the highest. Harmful VOC's are typically not acutely toxic, but instead have compounding long-term health effects and are usually found emanating from modern day indoor living , particularly paints and flooring. Because the concentrations are usually low and the symptoms slow to develop, research into VOC's and their effects is difficult but ongoing.