Indoor air quality is an important part of building an environmentally friendly and healthy space. VOCs are primarily known as volatile organic compounds, and are nasty chemicals made up of carbon-based molecules used in a variety of products. They are both invisible and very harmful to our health when breathed in.  Under normal conditions they vaporize, leaving the product or material they arrived in and meshing with other compounds in the air.

Many products contain VOCs like paint, adhesives and glues, wood and sealants. Familiar with that ‘new car’ smell? That odor represents volatile organic compounds entering your respiratory system. Some of these compounds are known carcinogens and can cause chronic and acute health problems. So what can you do to reduce or even eliminate these risks?

You can start off by purchasing products without volatile organic compounds. Some regulations currently limit the amount of VOCs that can be contained in a product. Look for products with labels that indicate low- or no-VOC compounds. If you’re purchasing or building wood products, consider leaving them unfinished. Due to their indoor location they won’t need any stain or varnish and by leaving them bare you’ll know there are no bad chemicals floating off of them. Consider purchasing natural cleaning agents that won’t add lingering toxins to the air. Soy-based foams and alternative sealants are also available to reduce the concentration of VOCs in a living space.