Common Sources of VOCs in Home and How to Limit Their Exposure

Toxins are all around us, and that is too inside your home. To ensure optimal health, you have to keep your home and work environment clean and green. Find the principles for safe and healthy living to create a non-toxic home.

Before treating the VOCs, you have to know about the volatile organic compounds or VOCs, which are the chemicals that escape or get mixed into surrounding air. Such chemicals can be emitted from materials, finishes and products within the home, which over time causes illness to people living or working in the same place. So, how to avoid VOCs from getting mixed with the air? Read the brief discourse here.

Avoid Plastics:

They cause indoor air pollution through off-gassing. Synthetic chemical Biphenyl A (BPA) is found in many plastic products which our skin absorb being in contact. This, in turn, can disrupt the endocrine system. Did you know 95% of adults are found with the traces of BPA in their bodies? Hence, experts recommend avoiding packaged food to limit the exposure and also ask to use bottle with BPA-free label.

Paints and Coatings:

Most paint materials contai VOCs. Paints release gas during the evaporation while drying. Paints and coatings use certain compounds to keep them in liquid form before the application. And, due to the volatile compounds, it evaporates and dries after the application. Did you know paints are one of the largest emitter of VOCs worldwide after the vehicles? Energy-efficient home builders in Melbou e suggest to choose paints with low-VOC in EPA set levels.

Flooring:

Whereas paints emit VOCs in the early stage of building, flooring brings another conce in the mind of property owners. Since mostly considered flooring materials are vinyl, wood, wood composites and carpet off-gas VOCs for years to come after the installation. And the main culprit behind it is the formaldehyde, which is one of the most common types of VOCs used to produce flooring material, it is also used as sealants that protect flooring from getting damaged by the wear. Flooring releases gases as a result of wear over time, whereas carpet produces VOCs for 5 years and more. Even, during the installation of the flooring slab, it needs the use of adhesives to seal the flooring materials to the subfloor, which contain the VOCs too. Eco-friendly home builders suggest to use natural flooring materials that have little treatment of such toxic elements.

Furniture:

you should also know that VOCs in furniture can be part of the manufacturing or the treatment process after construction. It means that the surface coatings to the upholstered furniture or the mattress to prevent staining or make it flame-retardant that contai VOCs as well. Hence, experts recommend to select the materials that are less-likely off-gas the VOCs, such as solid hardwood.

No matter what we try- people will come in contact with flooring item, food packaging, personal care, fitting and fixtures that contai VOCs. Hence, it is important to do a bit of research and determine how off-gassing happen for each product. Remember, porous or absorbable surfaces release more VOCs and attract them from other materials too.