|
VOLATILE ORGANIC CHEMICALS (VOC’s)Please Note: All symptoms described relate to indoor air contaminants. Similar symptoms may be caused by disease conditions that are not related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Consult your family physician. Any service, repair or installation work in a home or office should be performed by state licensed or certified personnel where applicable. This information does not cover all possible IAQ problems. Individual inspection, testing and analysis and consultation with professional IAQ consultants may be required to determine the cause of a particular problem. Volatile organic chemicals typically evaporate from solids or liquids into gases or exist as gases at room temperature. Volatile organic chemicals include synthetic man-made compounds such as degreasing and dry cleaning chemicals, components of plastics, foams, resins, glues, paints, beauty aides such as nail polish remover, waxes and other products that contain compounds such as formaldehyde. Volatile chemicals also include refined products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and natural gases such as methane, hydrogen sulfide, propane, mercaptans and other odorous and non-odorous chemicals. Sources of VOC’sMan-made (synthetic) volatiles are also found as residue in products such as rugs, upholstery, particle board, plywood, insulation and paneling, hair sprays, perfumes, lubricants, polishes, inks, toner, turpentine, thinner and pesticides.  Sources of VOC’sSpills and underground tank leaks can release VOC’s that may contaminate drinking water wells and soils and groundwater under buildings. Volatile chemicals can migrate to indoor air through cracks in concrete walls and floors, open earth floors, sump holes, trenches, and through the use of contaminated well water.
Sources of VOC’sThe sources of naturally formed VOC’s include well water that contain hydrogen sulfide, (H2S), methane and other hydrocarbons, spoiled food, sewer gases, natural gas leaks, dead animals, or rotting wood. Natural volatiles, formed through anaerobic (rotting, without oxygen) reactions often emit offensive odors that can make you ill.
How do volatile chemicals become a problem indoors? Indoors, the release of VOC’s from containers, machines or spills can cause levels to rise to abnormal concentrations. The VOC’s take the place of oxygen, and produce physiological symptoms. Exposure Symptoms Aromatic (benzene, gasoline) – Irritation of the eyes, nose, respiratory system, giddiness, headaches, nausea, staggered walk, fatigue, anorexia, lassitude (tired or weak), dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), bone marrow depression, abdominal pain. Exposure Symptoms Chlorinated Solvents (trichloroethene, metal and dry cleaners)- Irritation of the eyes and skin, headaches, lassitude (weakness), central nerves system depression, poor equilibrium, dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), cardiac arrhythmias (irregularity of the heart), and liver damage. Exposure Symptoms Natural Gas (propane, methane, sewer gas) - light headedness, drowsy, dizziness, disorientation, excitation, mental dullness. Safety Checklist Store volatile fuels such as gasoline or diesel fuel, cleaning agents and LPG cylinders outdoors in properly ventilated enclosures, or in the case of heating oil, properly vented to the outdoors. Do not store fuels and machines containing fuel indoors in air tight, super insulated garages or other buildings attached to living quarters. Safety Checklist Store all household products that contain volatile chemicals (bleach, nail polish remover) properly sealed when not in use. Keep minimum amounts of any volatile containing products in the house. Keep out of reach of children. Proper fresh air ventilation is essential to prevent the build up of volatiles in indoor air. Indoor Air Testing Procedures Indoor air testing with portable photoionization (PID) and/or flame ionization (FID) based instruments. Certified laboratory analysis by gas chromatography of indoor air samples collected in charcoal tubes or summa canisters Where is it Found Formaldehyde is a VOC used in glues and resin for pressed-wood products such as particleboard, interior-grade plywood, carpeting, and fiberboard. It is also found in adhesives, dyes, inks, medicines, cigarette smoke, and embalming fluids. It was a major ingredient in urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI).
What ambient (outdoor) sources of formaldehyde exist? Some ambient sources of formaldehyde in outdoor air include wetlands, incinerators, photochemical smog and engine exhaust. How does formaldehyde become a problem indoors? New building materials that contain formaldehyde, in a new home or mobile home, can degass residual levels, which then can become concentrated indoors. Over time, months to years, levels are reduced. Exposure Symptoms Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, respiratory system, lacrimation (discharge of tears), coughing, bronchitis spasm, fatigue, insomnia, depression, headaches, dizziness, memory loss, chess pains, shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes and asthma attacks. Safety Check List Avoid the use of building materials that contain formaldehyde such as some particle board, pressed board and plywood products. Check with your building supply store or the manufacturer. Limit the amount of carpeting installed, and ventilate the building after installation to reduce levels. Check levels with a formaldehyde test kit. |
||
 fax 978-342-5065 |
|
