Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common indoor and outdoor pollutants, some of which have potential to cause considerable harm to human health. While there are thousands of such compounds, the most common include benzene, butanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, terpenes, toluene and xylene (from traffic emissions including idling cars).
These VOC emissions come from a very wide range of common sources, including building and furniture materials (paints, adhesives, caulks, carpets, vinyl floor covering, foams, wallpapers, plastics and upholstery); home and personal care products such as air fresheners, deodorants, candles, joss sticks, cosmetics, nail polishes, furniture polishes and other cleaners; and from activities such as cooking, smoking, photocopying, and the use of open fires or wood burners. Outdoor VOC sources include fossil fuels, industrial processes, oil and gas extraction and processing, and wood burning. While total VOC emissions have been reducing in the UK over recent years, partly through increased efficiency of combustion engines and other measures, indoor emissions coming from solvents and consumer products now account for about 70 percent of those emissions.
The effects on humans of exposure to VOC emissions include dizziness, skin irritation, shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches, and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Higher concentration exposure can cause lung and organ damage, and some VOCs have been associated with cancers.