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Volatile Organic Compounds: Hidden Pollutants Harm Canadian Workers & Businesses
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What are VOC's?
VOCs may be natural or synthetic. Like organic chemicals in general, there
are millions of different compounds which may be classified as VOCs. The
compounds the nose detects as smells are generally VOCs. Modern industrial chemicals
such as fuels, solvents, coatings, feedstocks, and refrigerants are usually VOCs.
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Why are VOC's an issue?
Volatile Organic Compounds are known to produce tangible health concerns.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “Eye, nose, throat irritation,
headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, damage to liver, kidney, and central
nervous system” are known to result from exposure to VOCs.
VOC's tend toward the gaseous state, management of toxic VOCs is more difficult than with non-volatile compounds. Human exposure to VOCs can be through contact with the solid, liquid, or gaseous forms, inhalation of the gaseous form, or ingestion of the liquid form or solutions containing the VOC.
Because of their health effects, VOCs are regulated in some places. The large number of VOCs combined with their numerous exposure pathways make comprehensive management, discussion or regulation of volatile organic compounds impractical. Instead, subsets of VOCs are regulated by a wide variety of governmental agencies.
Health Canada classes VOCs as organic compounds that have boiling points roughly in the range of 50 to 250 °C (120 to 480 °F). The emphasis is placed on commonly encountered VOCs which would have an effect on air quality.
- Point sources Point sources are large industrial and commercial facilities with emissions larger than specified levels. These levels vary depending where the plant is located. Point sources are chemical plants, cement manufacturers, steel mills, power plants, surface coating operations, and printing operations.
- Area sources Area sources are small industrial or commercial sources not meeting point source requirements, and individual activities performed by the general population. For example, small printing shops, small auto body collision repair shops, gas stations, and personal activities such as house painting and solvent use are generalized under this category.
- On-road mobile sources On-road mobile sources are typical highway vehicles. Cars, trucks, busses, and vans are all included in this category.
- Off-road mobile sources Off-road mobile sources are vehicles and equipment which are not normally operated on public highways. This includes construction and industrial machinery, farm equipment, railroads, lawn and garden equipment, boats, and aircraft.
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Top Ten VOCs
- Gasoline Marketing/Petroleum Handling
- Cold Cleaning Degreasing
- Lawn & Garden Equipment
- Paints and Coatings
- Portable Fuel Containers
- Surface Coating Operations
- Consumer Products
- Light Duty Gasoline Trucks
- Lawn & Garden Equipment
- Light Duty Gasoline Vehicles
Effects of VOCs
Most VOCs contribute to the formation of
ground level ozone and also make an indirect
contribution to global warming. In addition,
some of them are toxic or carcinogenic.
Low Level VOCs are damaging to Human Beings as more and more we suffer from
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.
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Health Effects
Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. Key signs or symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs include conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, declines in serum cholinesterase levels, nausea, emesis, epistaxis, fatigue, dizziness.
The ability of organic chemicals to cause health effects varies greatly from those that are highly toxic, to those with no known health effect. As with other pollutants, the extent and nature of the health effect will depend on many factors including level of exposure and length of time exposed. Eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment are among the immediate symptoms that some people have experienced soon after exposure to some organics. At present, not much is known about what health effects occur from the levels of organics usually found in homes. Many organic compounds are known to cause cancer in animals; some are suspected of causing, or are known to cause, cancer in humans.
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Solutions
- Throw away partially full containers of old or unneeded chemicals safely.
- Buy limited quantities.
- Keep exposure to emissions from products containing methylene chloride to a minimum.
- Keep exposure to benzene to a minimum.
- Keep exposure to perchloroethylene emissions from newly dry-cleaned materials to a minimum.
- Follow label instructions carefully.
- Measure, Monitor and Sample frequently in your place of business.
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What contributes most to VOC emissions in Canada?
VOC emissions result from both natural sources and human activities. Natural sources of VOCs include vegetation, forest fires, and animals. Although natural sources of VOC emissions are larger overall, human activities in populated and industrialized areas are the main contributors to air quality problems.
Currently, the transportation sector is the largest contributor to VOCs in Canada, followed by the use of solvents and solvent-containing products, and industrial sources. By 2010, solvent use is expected to be the largest contributor to urban VOC emissions.
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For additional information on Hidden Pollutants: click HERE |
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Additional Information on Indoor Air Quality & Pollution:
Controlling Indoor Air Quality
How Noise and Chemicals Harm Worker’s Hearing: A Deafening Mix:
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Example Products for Controlling Indoor Air Pollution:
This air quality sensor samples the surrounding air every 2 seconds & detects: Natural Gas, Propane, Butane, Methane, Acetone, Ammonia, Carbon Monoxide, Gasoline, Jet Fuel Hydrogen Sulfide, and Industrial Solvents.
This air quality sensor samples the surrounding air every 2 seconds & detects: Natural Gas, Propane, Butane, Methane, Acetone, Ammonia, Carbon Monoxide, Gasoline, Jet Fuel Hydrogen Sulfide, and Industrial Solvents.
This Water Resistant 5 Gas detector & has a 95dB alarm, and is concussion resistant. Remote sampling also possible.
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