Volatile Organic Compound Levels In The Home

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Article Title:

Volatile Organic Compound Levels In The Home

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Article Description:

Have commercial residential odors? Learn about volatile

organic compounds, to decide if they may be the root cause

of those odors.

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Distribution Date and Time: 2009-11-17 10:00:00

Written By: Daryl Watters

Copyright: 2009

Contact Email: mailto:daryl.watters@...

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Volatile Organic Compound Levels In The Home

Copyright © 2009 Daryl Watters

A Accredited Mold Inspection Service, Inc.

http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us/

Volatile organic compound also known as VOCs are common indoor

pollutants composed of organic chemicals that evaporate into the

air easily at room temperatures. VOCs often cause chemical odors,

respiratory irritation, headache, and other indoor air quality

related complaints. At certain high levels they can be dangerous.

These chemicals are released by paints, paint thinners, varnish,

new carpets, new cabinets and furniture that contains particle

board, household cleaners and air fresheners, gasoline,

improperly vented combustion devices, photocopier machines,

blueprint machines, and many other sources. All buildings contain

some level of volatile organic compounds, determining what are

normal levels and what are elevated levels is important in

diagnosing a buildings indoor air quality. The following

information gives some idea of what are normal and what are

elevated VOC levels.

Global consensus has resulted in the emergence of preliminary

guidelines or tVOC standards for IAQ (Australian NHMRC, 1993;

Finnish society of IAQ, 1995: Seifert, 1999: Hong Kong EPA, 1999;

Japan MoH, 2000).

Depending on Location (home, school, etc. ), recommended levels

range from 200 to 1300 ug/m3 or about 50 to 325 ppb or .05 to

..325 ppm (Toluene units) or approximately 100 to 650 ppb .1 to

..650 ppm isobutylene units.

By all accounts the IAQ tVOC threshold for normal environments

should not exceed 500 ppb (0.5 ppm) Toluene units, which is

equivalent to 1000 ppb (1ppm) isobutylene units.

Field experience suggests the following guide for the use of PIDs

to assess indoor environments:

Less than 100 ppb or (.1ppm) isobutylene units: normal outdoor

air

100-400 ppb or (.1-.4ppm) isobutylene units normal indoor air

500 + ppb or (.5ppm) + isobutylene units: indicates potential of

IAQ contaminants

Reference RAE Systems Application Note AP-212

In summary the above states that the general consensus among most

experts is that recommended indoor levels of total volatile

organic compounds is .1 to .6 ppm isobutylene units.

Indoor levels above .5ppm isobutylene units indicates potential

contamination and levels should not exceed 1ppm isobutylene

units.

Please keep in mind that the above applies to homes offices and

schools etc. Exposure limits allowed in industrial settings will

be much higher.

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Daryl Watters is president of A Accredited Mold Inspection

Service, Inc. He provides mold inspections and indoor air

quality testing for chemicals and unusual odors in South

Florida. He is also the creator of MIR forms designed to

aid inspectors in the production of computer generated

indoor air quality, IAQ test and mold inspection reports.

For more inspection and testing information visit:

http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com

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