How can chemicals in products affect me?

VOCs include a range of chemicals which may have short or long-term health effects. The risk will vary with the type of chemical, how much is in the air and for how long a person breathes it in. People suffering from asthma and other lung conditions, pregnant women, young children and the elderly may be more susceptible to suffering ill effects.

Each chemical group of VOCs has its own toxicity and potential for causing ill health. Common VOCs include benzene (found in some furniture wax and detergents), xylene (paints, laquers, adhesives, rust preventers, adhesives) and toluene (paint thinners, paint brush cleaners) – all potentially cancer-causing at high levels.

Formaldehyde is a colourless and pungent smelling gas. In the home, the most significant source is often pressed wood products made with urea-formaledyde resin, such as flooring, shelving and furniture

Short term exposure to VOCs may cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, dizziness and triggering of asthma symptoms. Long-term (years to lifetime) exposure can result in cancer and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. The World Health Organisation estimates indoor and outdoor air pollution causes around 6.5m premature deaths every year.

What is a safe level of VOCs?

Until recently in the UK there were no indoor air quality guidelines for safe exposure to VOCs. This has now changed. Building Regulations Part F (2010), providing guidance on building ventilation, has been updated, due to take effect from June 15 2022. Aims include ensuring that sufficient levels of ventilation are provided to tackle indoor air pollution in more airtight buildings, for example with mechanical ventilation systems and extractor fans. “Without adequate ventilation, mould and internal air pollution might become hazardous to health,” states the revised guidelines.

Appendix B1 has a table called “Indoor air pollutants guidance values” which lists safe exposure limits for how much of a particular chemical is in the air and for how long. In addition to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde, a simplified metric “TVOC” (total volatile organic compound) is used as representative of all airborn indoor air VOC concentrations for ventilation control purposes.

The updated guidance states no safe level can be recommended for benzene, found in cigarette smoke and used to make plastics, sythetic fibres and detergents. The new limits are largely based on a 2019 Public Health England (now UKHSA) study called ‘Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for selected Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the UK.”

Consider purchasing low-VOC products

Public awareness is on the rise. More and more manufacturers are making efforts to reduce the amount of VOCs in products and offer more chemical free options. Be wary of “greenwashing” when it comes to advertising. Green claims are often based on reduced emissions in the manufacturing process.

That said, indoor paints have become less smelly and more water-based with fewer solvents. Paints are especially problematic because of the large painted surfaces within a home – walls, ceilings, window frames and doors.