Health Effects of VOC 's
What are the Health Effects of VOC Exposure?
The risk of health effects from inhaling any chemicals depends on how much is in the air, how long and how often a person breathes it in. 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 VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) for long periods of time may increase some people’s risk of health problems. Several studies suggest that exposure to VOC’s may make symptoms worse in people who have asthma or are particularly sensitive to chemicals. These are much different exposures than occupational exposures to VOC’s.
VOC’s refer to a group of chemicals. Each chemical has its own toxicity and potential for causing different health effects. Common symptoms of exposure to VOC’s include:
Short-Term (acute) to high levels of VOC’s
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation
- Headaches
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Worsening of asthma symptoms
Long-Term (chronic) to high levels of VOC’s
Increased risk of:
- Cancer
- Liver Damage
- Kidney Damage
- Central Nervous System Damage
Homeowners can protect themselves against these dangers by having a professional come out and test their home. Companies like us, Complete Home Solutions, can protect your home even further by air sealing it, keeping many of those hazardous VOC's out of your breathing air.
