What is worth knowing about VOCs?

There are all sorts of chemicals in the air we breathe. These are substances of organic or inorganic origin that affect our body in a specific way. The list of the most harmful volatile chemical compounds includes compounds collectively called VOCs (VOCs ). What are they and how do they affect people? Let's check.

VOCs, or volatile organic compounds

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are one of the oldest types of compounds produced, among others, by plants. Along with the development of civilization and the spread of industry, VOCs created as a result of human activity also began to penetrate into the atmosphere. So these are substances of natural and anthropogenic origin.

What are the characteristics of VOCs? These are compounds that are insoluble or slightly soluble in water. They have specific smells. They begin to boil at temperatures between 50°C and 250°C. They also turn into steam or gas very quickly. Both plant and anthropogenic VOCs create heterogeneous collections – when we talk about VOCs, we mean different compounds. Which volatile organic substances are included in the group of VOCs? These include:

• isoprene,
• acetone,
• dichlorobenzene,
• benzene,
• octane,
• hexane,
• formalheid,

Where are the volatile VOCs found?

In nature, VOCs occur wherever there is vegetation. It is assumed that the largest amounts of volatile compounds are found in the leaves of trees. It is from the leaves that substances such as terpene and isoprene are released, which emit intense odors. Significant amounts of VOCs get into the atmosphere during fires of green areas, forests and meadows.

VOCs are also found in many of the products we use every day. These are, for example, deodorants, nail polishes or air fresheners. Poisonous, volatile substances can also be found in textiles made of synthetic fibres, in footwear, and even in varnished or stained furniture. The most dangerous VOCs, volatile organic compounds , are found in exhaust fumes, paints, varnishes, impregnations and in smoke from industrial plants. Major emitters of VOCs are also:

• paint shops and paint shops,
• producers of industrial chemicals, laminates, paints, pesticides and dyes,
• waste incineration plants,
• manufacturers of construction materials and chemicals.

VOCs: standards for the paint industry

The excess of VOCs in the air increases the amount of a dangerous greenhouse gas, which is ozone. These substances also adversely affect the human body. It is therefore worth knowing what the permissible VOC values ​​are. The VOC standard is a subject that scientists and politicians are still analyzing, looking for effective solutions in the field of climate protection. Issues related to the emission of VOCs are addressed by such legal acts as:

• Act of 17 July 2009 on the system for managing emissions of greenhouse gases and other substances
• Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for certain air pollutants,
• Directive 2004/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004,
• Regulation of the Ministry of Development of August 8, 2016 on the reduction of VOC emissions in certain paints and varnishes.

In the Regulation of August 8, 2016, you can find tables of the permissible content of volatile organic compounds. The standards are expressed in units of g/li and apply to water- and solvent-based paints, as well as primers, primers and fillers.

How do modern industrialists fight VOC emissions – volatile organic compounds?

The problem of VOC emissions has become one of the key challenges faced by the modern chemical, varnishing and dyeing industries. What can be done to reduce the amount of volatile organic compounds? One of the ideas is the use of high-quality semi-finished products and raw materials used in the production of paints.

Instead of highly toxic chemical agents, companies are increasingly reaching for innovative preparations with reduced VOC content. An example of a safe preparation is an aqueous solution of polyacrylic acid sodium salt, EXOdis PC40, a dispersant in which the amount of VOCs has been reduced to a minimum.

How do volatile organic substances affect humans?

Why have VOC emissions become one of the main topics of environmental debates? These are very dangerous substances, the excess of which causes:

• increase in the amount of greenhouse gas in the form of ozone,
• air pollution,
• lowering the quality of life on Earth.

When the standards for the content of volatile organic compounds are exceeded, we begin to experience many unpleasant ailments. Most often it is a headache, fatigue, problems with sleep and concentration. Prolonged inhalation of VOCs is very dangerous for the respiratory system. The poison, constantly floating in the air, strongly weakens the internal organs and can even lead to chronic lung diseases, cancer and allergies.