When AirMD’s consultants conduct residential indoor air quality testing, one of the things we are always testing for is VOCs – volatile organic compounds.

Many homeowners are surprised to learn how prevalent VOCs are. Others are surprised to learn about the risk these compounds present.

What are volatile organic compounds?

As the American Lung Association explains, “Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are gases that are emitted into the air from products or processes. Some are harmful by themselves, including some that cause cancer. In addition, they can react with other gases and form other air pollutants after they are in the air.”

What threats do VOCs present to you and your family?

With “organic” as their middle name, volatile organic compounds may not sound very dangerous. We are accustomed to think of anything that is organic as being good for us. But that is definitely not the case when it comes to VOCs.

“Breathing VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, can cause difficulty breathing and nausea, and can damage the central nervous system as well as other organs,” the American Lung Association reports. “Some VOCs can cause cancer.”

How do VOCs get into your home?

Volatile organic compounds may be produced by the materials used to build and furnish your house. Common sources include:

• Paints, stains and varnishes
• Caulk
• Adhesives
• Flooring
• Carpeting
• Products made from pressed wood
• Furniture

VOCs can also be found in a variety of cleaning and maintenance products you have around the house, ranging from household cleaning products to air fresheners, cosmetics and deodorants.

Other sources of volatile organic compounds may include:

• Your dry cleaning
• Home office printers
• Tobacco smoke
• Glue, permanent markers and other crafting supplies
• Fuel oil and gasoline
• Wood burning stoves and fireplaces

If you have questions or concerns regarding the presence of potentially hazardous volatile organic compounds in your home or business or would like more information about VOC testing, please contact the environmental testing scientists at AirMD. Or to schedule an appointment call 1-888-462-4763 or 1-888-GO-AIRMD.

The post What Are VOCs and Why Should You Be Concerned About Them? appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

A thorough indoor air quality assessment – including things like VOC testing, an asbestos inspection, formaldehyde testing and a mold inspection – is a good idea if employees of your company seem to be suffering ill health as a result of the time they spend on the job. Not every ailment contracted as the result of the poor indoor air quality in a workplace is as hard to pin down as Sick Building Syndrome.

With Sick Building Syndrome, the exact cause of the complaint can’t be specifically identified. There are a host of building-related illnesses, however, that can be accurately diagnosed and linked to specific contaminants in the air.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the term Sick Building Syndrome refers to “situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building.”

On the other hand, the EPA uses the term Building Related Illness when “symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.”

Often this condition is temporary, but some buildings have long-term problems. Frequently, problems result when a building is operated or maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its original design or prescribed operating procedures. Sometimes indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or occupant activities.

Sick Building Syndrome VS Building Related Illness

Sick Building Syndrome is associated with the following conditions:

• The people who work in the building may suffer from headaches, itchy eyes, throat irritation, dry cough, dry or itchy skin, dizziness, nausea and other complaints. They may be troubled by mental fogginess, fatigue and sensitivity to odors.
• Their symptoms generally ease when they leave the building.
• The specific cause of the symptoms isn’t known.

On the other hand, the EPA says the following characteristics indicate that you’re dealing with Building Related Illnesses:

• The symptoms are more specific. People who work in the building are complaining of symptoms like coughing, chest tightness, fever, chills and muscle aches.
• These symptoms can be clinically defined and have clearly identifiable causes.
• Just leaving the building may not be enough to provide relief.

According to a paper on Indoor Air Facts and Sick Building Syndrome published by the EPA, “A 1984 World Health Organization Committee report suggested that up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ).”

If you think your building might be one of that 30 percent – or if you’d like information about keeping the air in your building healthy so your building doesn’t join the list – give us a call at 1-888-462-4763 or 1-888-GO-AIRMD or submit your question online. Our experts in VOC testing, asbestos inspections and mold remediation in our Boca Raton, FL headquarters will by happy to help you.

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You would think that keeping your home clean would be one of the best things you could do to protect your indoor air quality and avoid the need for VOC testing or a mold inspection, right? Unfortunately, as the experts at AirMD, specialists in environmental testing and mold remediation in Boca Raton, FL, will tell you, that might not be the case.

Of course, not doing the house cleaning isn’t the solution. (It would be nice if we didn’t have to do it, though, wouldn’t it?!) What you’ll need to do to make sure you’re not releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful chemicals into the air your family is breathing is read the labels and understanding what is in the cleaning products that you’re using.

According to the American Lung Association, “Household and cleaning products—including soaps, polishes and grooming supplies—often include harmful chemicals. Even products advertised as ‘green’ or ‘natural’ may contain ingredients that can cause health problems. Some cleaning supplies can even be flammable or corrosive.”

That’s right. There is no law that says manufacturers have to list everything that goes into the products they are trying to sell you. Just because the label says something is an eco-friendly choice, don’t believe it. Do your own research!

How to avoid harmful VOCs and chemicals in cleaning and household products

Here are some tips from the American Lung Association that can help you keep the air in your home safe:

• Read all labels on cleaning supplies and household products before you buy them. Choose products that do not contain or have reduced amounts of VOCs, fragrances, irritants and flammable ingredients.
• Avoid using air fresheners altogether.
• Follow the directions and use products only as they are intended.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has put together a list of cleaning products you might use in your home or car that meet its Safer Choice requirements.
• As a safer cleaning alternative, warm water and soap often will do the trick, especially at home. Baking soda is good for scrubbing. A mix of vinegar and water can clean glass.
• When using cleaning or household products, keep the area well ventilated. Open windows and doors. Never use cleaning products in a small, enclosed space.

If you have concerns that your irritated eyes, scratchy throat, headaches or other health problems might be related to the quality of the air in your home, you can call the air quality experts at AirMD at 1 888 GO AIRMD (1-888-462-4763). We will help you determine if VOC testing is right for you. We offer professional residential and commercial services throughout the state of Florida, ranging from formaldehyde testing Jacksonville to mold removal in Miami.

The post Are there harmful VOCs in your household cleaning supplies? appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Report on the Environment, we are spending the vast majority of our time inside. In fact, the EPA’s report includes a section on Indoor Air Quality that states, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors.” The experts at AirMD can help you ensure that the air you are breathing while you’re spend all that time inside is safe. Our services include testing for formaldehyde and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) as well as asbestos and mold inspections.

Why you should be concerned

The EPA says that the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher inside than they are in the great outdoors. The report also says that, “Indoor concentrations of some pollutants have increased in recent decades due to such factors as energy-efficient building construction (when it lacks sufficient mechanical ventilation to ensure adequate air exchange) and increased use of synthetic building materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners.”

The EPA’s list of typical pollutants of concern includes:

• Combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and environmental tobacco smoke.
• Substances of natural origin such as radon, pet dander, and mold.
• Biological agents such as molds.
• Pesticides, lead, and asbestos.
• Ozone (from some air cleaners).
• Various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a variety of products and materials.

Unfortunately, as the EPA reports, “People who are often most susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution (e.g., the very young, older adults, people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease) tend to spend even more time indoors.”

If you have concerns about the quality of the air in your home or office, AirMD offers an extensive range of professional, science-based Residential Services, including:

• Allergy Testing
• Mold Testing
• Asbestos Testing and Asbestos Surveys
• Volatile Organic Compound Testing (VOCs)
• Water Testing
• Wellness Testing
• Bacteria Testing

• Heavy Metals Testing
• Lead Testing
• Pesticide Testing

Commercial Services include:

• Asbestos Testing And Surveys
• Lead Testing
• LEED Certification
• Mold Assessments
• Onsite Post Remediation Testing
• Pesticide Testing
• Restoration Project Management
• Protocol Development
• Volatile Organic Compound Testing VOCs
• Water Loss Assessment
• Building Science

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VOC testing, or volatile organic compound testing, is the process of finding specific chemical contaminants that have been released into the air. Most individuals are unaware of the importance of finding and locating these chemical contaminants in both residential and commercial properties. That is why AirMD put together four things that you may not know about VOC testing and how these chemical contaminants can negatively impact your health.

1. VOC testing finds and locates toxic compounds including but not limited to formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and xylene.

2. It works to improve air quality by reducing symptoms such as headaches, nose and throat irritations, and even eye irritations.

3. VOC testing helps to improve the health of the environment and inhabitants by eliminating airborne chemicals that can be easily inhaled and do damage to your health.

4. It helps to pinpoint where volatile organic compounds originate from and where they have been released to. Most chemicals have no warning signs such as bad odors, so they cannot be detected quickly without the assistance of VOC testing.

Most individuals are surprised to learn more about the adverse effects VOCs can have on them and how they can be present indoors. This is why AirMD urges most individuals to seek VOC testing for their homes and offices. Our trained staff will visit your residential or commercial property to test for the presence of any VOCs and safely remove them so that your building remains a safe environment for all those who live and work there.

To make an appointment to set up lead testing, call us today at 1-888-462-4763 or 1-888-Go-AIRMD. We also offer allergen testing, asbestos testing, asbestos surveys, lead testing, lead paint testing, water testing, allergy testing, VOC testing, mold testing, water quality and so much more. You can also look around our webpage to see what other services we have to offer to you and your household.

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Concentrations of VOCs are higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, and photographic solutions.

The risk of health effects from inhaling any chemical depends on the concentration in the air and length of exposure. Scientists look at short-term (acute) exposures as hours to days or long-term (chronic) exposures as years to even lifetime.

Breathing low levels of VOCs for long periods of time may increase some people’s risk of health problems. Several studies suggest that exposure to VOCs may make symptoms worse in people who have asthma or are particularly sensitive to chemicals. These are much different exposures than occupational exposures to VOCs. Each chemical has its own toxicity and potential for causing different health effects.

Short term (acute) health effects include eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, worsening of asthma symptoms. Long term (chronic) health effects to high levels of VOCs include increased risk of cancer, liver damage, kidney damage and central nervous system damage.

The evidence of health risks is clearly sufficient to warrant that precautionary measures be taken to limit VOC and SVOC exposures. Eliminating or limiting the indoor sources of VOCs and SVOCs is the first option to consider. In some cases, sources can be reduced through behavior changes or product substitutions, while in other cases source reduction measures are complicated and require tradeoffs. Outdoor air ventilation is another main option for reducing concentrations of VOC’s.

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