Poor indoor air quality has many causes, but few contaminants are more pervasive or concerning than volatile organic compounds. To better protect yourself and the people you care about in Destin, FL, it’s important to understand what these pollutants are and what they do.
What Are Volatile Organic Compounds?
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are organic chemicals that readily vaporize at room temperature. This causes them to be released into the air in a process called off-gassing. Some of the most common VOCs include benzene, formaldehyde, ethylene glycol, toluene, and methylene chloride. These chemicals are found in countless everyday products, including paints, cleaners, adhesives, aerosol sprays, furniture, building materials, office equipment and more.
How VOCs Impact Health and Air Quality
Because they’re so ubiquitous, off-gassing VOCs can easily build up to potentially unsafe levels in enclosed indoor spaces. At high concentrations, even short-term exposure to VOCs can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Over the long term, the consequences can be even worse. Chronic exposure has been linked to cancer, nervous system dysfunction, kidney and liver damage, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and other serious conditions.
The Keys to a VOC-Free Home or Office
The most effective way to control VOCs indoors is to eliminate them at the source. Of course, completely removing all VOC-producing sources from your home or business is not always practical- or even possible. That’s why it’s essential to ensure your indoor spaces are well-ventilated. Installing a ventilator can provide a continuous flow of fresh air, flushing out VOCs and preventing them from reaching dangerous concentrations. Finally, consider investing in an air purifier like the REME HALO. Unlike traditional media filters, these air purifiers are specifically designed to reduce VOCs and other contaminants.
At Economy Appliance Heat & Air, we’re committed to providing affordable, evidence-based solutions to help control volatile organic compounds. Give us a call today to talk to our experts and explore our full range of indoor air quality products.