Volatile Organic Compound Levels In The Home

Copyright © 2007-2009 Daryl Watters

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:

< 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.

About The Author:

Daryl Watters has a bachelors degree in education for teaching biology and general science and is a certified mold inspector, certified home inspector, and certified indoor environmentalist providing building inspections in South Florida since 1993. For more information visit http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com

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Volatile Organic Compound Levels In The Home 
Copyright © 2007-2009 Daryl Watters

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:

< 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.

About The Author:

Daryl Watters has a bachelors degree in education for teaching biology and general science and is a certified mold inspector, certified home inspector, and certified indoor environmentalist providing building inspections in South Florida since 1993. For more information visit <a href=http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us target=_blank>http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us</a> <a href=http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com target=_blank>http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com</a>

Read more articles written by: <a href="http://www.thephantomwriters.com/recent/author/daryl-watters.html" target="_blank">Daryl Watters</a>

TEXT Article Copy-And-Paste

Volatile Organic Compound Levels In The Home
Copyright © 2007-2009 Daryl Watters

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:

< 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.

============================================================
Daryl Watters has a bachelors degree in education for teaching biology 
and general science and is a certified mold inspector, certified home 
inspector, and certified indoor environmentalist providing building 
inspections in South Florida since 1993. For more information visit 
http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us  http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com
 ============================================================

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