Have a Question? Talk to a Specialist! Call 800.739.7706Contact Us Now!

How to Protect Your Home and Health Against VOCs

protect against vocs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are substances containing carbon, as well as two or more separate elements, that easily evaporate and spread through the air. VOCs are not only found in the atmosphere but in ground-water, where they have a tendency to migrate into drinking water supplies. Common VOCs include Acetone, Benzene, Chloroform, Ethylene glycol, Formaldehyde, Methylene chloride, Perchloroethylene (PCE), Toluene and Xylene.

The U.S. Geological Survey categorizes VOCs into the following groups: fumigants, solvents, refrigerants, organic synthesis compounds, trihalomethanes, gasoline oxygenates and gasoline hydrocarbons. Some have very strong odors, and some have no odor at all.

Are VOCs Dangerous?

VOCs can be very harmful to human health, which is why manufacturers label products “low VOC” due to concerns about high VOC content. Children, the elderly and people with heightened sensitivity to chemicals may be more susceptible to harmful consequences.

Health effects include irritation of the nose, eyes and throat in addition to nausea, dizziness, headaches and allergic skin reactions. People suffering from asthma may experience a worsening of symptoms. Long-term or chronic exposure may cause damage to internal organs, such as liver and kidneys, damage to the central nervous system as well as cancer.

Dangers vary, depending on the type of VOC, the VOC concentration and the duration of exposure. Some VOCs are more highly toxic, while others are not known to have adverse health effects at all. Although, low levels of VOCs over long periods of time can be very harmful. Regardless of toxicity, it’s recommended that VOCs are used in a well-ventilated area.

When it comes to toxic VOCs, OSHA has developed occupational exposure limits that should not be exceeded:

  • Time Weighted Average (TWA) – The air concentration of a substance that should not be exceeded in an 8-hour work shift or 40-hour work week.
  • Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) – The time-weighted average exposure that should not be exceeded in a 15-minute period.
  • Ceiling Limit (c) – The exposure limit that should never be exceeded.
The indoor concentration of VOCs still depends on a number of factors including the following: volume of air, ventilation rate, rate that VOCs are being released and the outdoor concentration of VOCs.

Where Can VOCs Be Found in the Home?

VOCs bring gas pollutants and toxins into the home from a number of courses. According to the EPA, VOCS can be higher indoors than outdoors because of household products. Studies have concluded that VOC levels can be 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors, with levels being 1,000 times higher during certain activities like paint stripping.


voc levels higher indoors


You can easily find VOCs in paints and carpets. Of the 400 VOC compounds identified in homes, over 200 are found in carpeting. VOCs can also be found in furniture, plastic and electronic devices. Some products give off gas within a short period of time, while others give off VOCs over a very long period of time.





VOCs are likely to be found in the following:

  • Personal care products such as nail polish, hair spray, shampoos, cosmetics and perfumes. Acetone, as used in products like nail polish, is a VOC which can spread through the air very quickly.
  • Building materials such as carpets, adhesives, particle board, pressed wood, plywood, sealing caulks, solvents, upholstery fabrics, varnishes and vinyl.
  • Paint, paint-thinners and varnishes. Paints are the second largest source of VOC emissions.
  • Cleaning products such as disinfecting chemicals, air cleaners, air fresheners and dry cleaning agents.
  • Moth repellants.
  • Pesticides.
The following activities can generate VOCs: burning wood in stoves, cooking, dry cleaning, photocopying, smoking, storing paints or chemicals and using non-electric space heaters. VOCs can also be found in emissions from manufacturing facilities, motor vehicle exhaust and even natural sources such as fossil fuels, bacteria and vegetation.

VOCs are common enough that you won’t be able to eliminate them completely, but there are still precautions to help reduce the danger of toxic exposure.

How to Reduce VOCs and Toxins in the Home and at Work

The best way to limit VOCs indoors is to limit the sources of VOC. Some items may produce high enough levels of VOCs that it’s safer to remove them entirely.

Determine the VOC Source

Because VOCs are not only harmful to the environment but also pose health risks at home and at work, it’s vital to clean up high-level VOCs as soon as possible. Envisupply provides cleanup crews and emergency responders with the equipment needed to eliminate VOC dangers. If you’re cleaning up contaminates yourself, using your own VOC detection equipment and monitors will help measure total VOC levels (TVOC) to address contamination accurately and safely.

Remove High VOC Sources

Once you’ve determined the possible source of the VOC using VOC detection equipment, be sure to remove the item. When it comes to chemicals, only purchase what you expect to use, and remove unused chemicals from the home to prevent gradual leakage from closed containers. If you’re throwing out hazardous waste, be sure to check with your city or county for the nearest household hazardous waste collection sites.

It’s important to exercise caution when addressing contamination since hidden hazards can be dangerous. Envisupply can provide advice on preventing the dangerous side effects of exposure to toxic gases.

Resources on the Envisupply website provide up-to-date information and guidance for VOC monitoring.

Minimize VOCs

  • Ventilate. When dealing with low-level VOCs, ventilation can significantly reduce VOC exposure, especially when rooms have been painted or new carpeting or vinyl flooring has been installed. You can increase ventilation not only by opening windows and doors but by using fans to bring in outdoor air. Plants can also help maintain a healthy indoor environment. Renovations on the home should be completed when the home is unoccupied or when it’s easy to keep the home well-ventilated. If there are more VOCs outside the home, ventilation might actually bring those pollutants indoors.


  • Lower Temperature.It will also help to keep temperature and humidity low, since chemicals like formaldehyde will become more volatile when it’s warm or damp.


  • Avoid High VOC Content. When purchasing new items, consider using products (e.g. paint, carpets) with low or no VOCs and wood items with low-emitting finishes.

    • Low-VOC paint levels should not exceed 50 grams per liter for topcoats and 100 grams per liter for primers. Environmental chamber studies have shown that standard semi-glass paints had eight times the magnitude of VOCs than low-VOC semi-gloss paint within the first hour of painting. It took 14 days for standard paint to reach non-detectible levels, while it took low-VOC paint seven days.
    • You should buy wood or “exterior grade” plywood instead of pressed wood products.
    • Use fabric shower curtains instead of vinyl shower curtains, which can off-gas 100 different chemicals.
    • Natural cleaners are preferable to commercial cleaners, which also give off many harmful chemicals.
    • Non-toxic sealants can be used on composite wood products to reduce VOC exposure.
  • Allow Products to “Off-Gas.” If you’re purchasing a new sofa, let it sit in the garage for a few days before bringing it indoors. Seal particle board or pressed wood furniture with varnish before bringing it inside. When purchasing a new carpet, ask the installer to air out the carpet a few days before installing it.




Using RAE Systems Detectors for Measuring VOCs


Understanding the likely risks will determine the best VOC monitor. Consider the following approaches:

  • Colorimetric gas tubes provide on-the-spot measurements of many gases and vapors. Tubes react with compounds, changing color depending on the concentration of that compound. Color changes are clear and sharp, making them easy to read.
  • Photoionization detectors (PIDs) such as the MiniRAE 3000 or the ppbRAE 3000, measure Total Volatile Organic Compounds. These meters may not provide the exact VOC level but will detect the presence of particular VOCs. However, if there’s only one VOC, you can still multiply a reading by a correction factor to get an accurate reading.
When you need to detect VOC gases and vapors, RAE Systems offers affordable solutions for home protection and environmental monitoring. RAE Systems offers the best in hand-held safety and accuracy.

Gas Detection Tubes and Hand Pumps

Detection tubes can be used for as many as 30 different gases, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, benzene and formaldehyde. Gas detection tubes use gas diffusion and colorimetric reaction to offer accurate readings of exposure levels.

RAE Systems’ hand pumps and gas detection tubes are easy to use in most field conditions. When combined, they provide on-the-spot readings with immediate results.

  • RAE Systems’ Colorimetric Gas Detection Tubes - RAE Systems’ selection of Colorimetric Gas Detection tubes provide quick, on-the-spot measurements of gases and vapors at low cost. Instructions indicate what correction factors are needed for the most accurate reading. Tubes can also be reset for re-use.

  • RAE Systems’ LP-1200 Piston Pump - The Piston hand pump can be used with a variety of gas detection tubes, offering on-the-sport measurements of many gases and vapors without the need for recalibration.
RAE Systems gas detection tubes ensure immediate results, with the gas concentration displaying directly on the tube. For an accurate reading, be sure to follow the tube instructions if correction factors need to be applied.

RAE Systems also offers portable multi-threat monitors with comprehensive detection of environmental VOCs, available in pro, lite and standard models. These RAE Systems devices offer the advanced capabilities needed by HazMat and environmental cleanup teams.

RAE Systems Portable Photo-Ionization Detectors (PID)– Providing detection of VOCs at levels up to 10,000 ppm, this line of photo-ionization detectors include the MiniRAE, the MiniRAE Lite, the UltraRAE 3000 and the ppbRAE 3000.


  • MiniRAE PIDs – Small, portable photoionization detectors (PIDs) are an inexpensive way to detect vapors and gases in concentrations from 10,000 parts per million to 50 parts per billion. Military and government teams use MiniRAE PIDs from RAE Systems for quality checks, contamination concerns and hazardous material handling. MiniRAE PIDs offer two options: the MiniRAE3000 and the more budget-friendly MiniRAE Lite.
    • MiniRAE 3000 – This handheld device is one of the most popular and versatile PID units on the market and offers detection in three seconds. It can be used to detect over 350 contaminants at levels between 0.1 and 15,000 ppm, with readouts of VOCs as ppm by volume, high values, STEL, TWA, battery voltage ad temperature. The MiniRAE 3000 has a battery life of 16 hours, with accessories that permit direct or wireless connections. The MiniRAE 3000 is ideal for soil contamination detection and pollution mapping. With a calibration kit, you can use a single PID for multifaceted scanning and monitoring. Envisupply offers the MiniRAE 3000 for rent, with all rental units including a rugged carrying case and a calibration gas regulator.

    • MiniRAE Lite – A less expensive model than the MiniRAE 3000, the MiniRAE Lite offers the same PID sensor technology but with fewer detection options. It detects up to 200 compounds from zero to 5,000 ppm and requires no annual calibration. The Lite model still provides a three-second response, with one-minute detection if you select a specific compound to detect.
  • Portable ppbRAE 3000 – The ppbRAE 3000 is the only portable PID offering advanced VOC monitoring capabilities needed for HazMat, military applications, industrial safety and also environmental applications. The ppbRAE 3000 provides a three-second response time and a compound detection range between 1 and 10,000 ppm. Sensors compensate for humidity and temperature to provide the most accurate detection available. Offering advanced data-logging, the ppbRAE makes it easy for teams to collect information in real time to a command center three miles away. Its interface is easy to operate when wearing gloves, while the unit’s lamp and sensor are accessible without special tools.

  • UltraRAE 3000 – The UltraRAE 3000 offers advanced VOC monitoring capability along with benzene detection as low as 50 ppb. Gas outlet port adapters and organic vapor zeroing kits make it a great choice for plant maintenance and HazMat cleanup.
RAE Systems Wireless Multi-Gas Instruments - RAE Systems Wireless Multi-Gas Instruments - RAE System’s MultiRAE family of detectors is ideal for multi-gas monitoring and portable chemical detection. It’s the only multi-threat system that can natively detect concerns and issue warnings based on a parts-per-billion level threat, making them reliable tools for HazMat teams and cleanup crews. The product line offers three options: the MultiRAE, the MultiRAE Lite and the MultiRAE Pro.


The MultiRAE unit supports up to six gas sensors at once, with up to 33 sensor options available that can easily be swapped out. Wireless connectivity permits users to send data to a remote monitoring station up to two miles away. Hazardous response personnel prefer MultiRAE for its built-in alarm features and rugged design for use in harsh environments. The MultiRAE unit is ideal for disaster response, confined space entry, emergency response and industrial hygiene.

Envisupply: An Authorized Dealer for RAE Systems

As an authorized dealer for RAE Systems, Envisupply not only sells and rents the above RAE Systems products, but also provides repairs, spare parts and services covered by RAE Systems’ warranties. Envisupply also supplies a variety of kits to help calibrate gas monitoring instruments in the field. Rental units ship to anywhere in the United States and are fully serviced beforehand.

Choose Environmental Equipment & Supply to Assist With Your VOC Detection Needs

Envisupply has been offering professional service to the environmental, construction and commercial marketplace for over 25 years, specializing in sampling, monitoring and testing supplies. Envisupply provides the most reliable geophysics equipment for rent, in addition to all-inclusive repair services on equipment sold. Envisupply offers the most experienced experts in the industry, skilled at repairing sampling pumps, photoionization detectors and single or multi-gas monitors.

We partner with customers to provide purchase options for any budget, with rentals on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. We serve customers from start to finish, assisting with large and small projects. Contact us to find out which products options and instruments are best for your VOC detection needs and your budget.