Being exposed to air pollution affects all of us, but indoor air pollution takes on a personal note. Understanding what can degrade your indoor air quality is the first step in addressing problems; one problem that’s being talked about more frequently are volatile organic compounds (VOC). So, what is a VOC?
As described by the federal EPA, VOCs are ”emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids… that include a variety of chemicals which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.” Basically, they are gases that are released as materials degrade over time.
What that means is that you should be aware of the possible negative indoor environmental effects resulting from some paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, flooring, and even some furniture, cosmetics and craft supplies. VOCs also occur in commercial buildings through building materials, carpets, furniture and office supplies. The EPA points out that VOCs occur up to 10 times more frequently indoors than they do outdoors.
How do you know if you’ve been exposed to VOCs? Reactions could include allergies, headaches and respiratory problems. High exposure is suspected to cause damage to liver, kidneys and the central nervous system. Some suspect VOCs can cause cancer.
So what can you do? Completely avoiding VOCs is probably not possible as they occur in so many common products, but making sure your indoor air quality is as high as possible will help. Look into an air filtration system such as our whole-house air cleaners and high-efficiency HVAC air filters. Making sure your systems are maintained and running efficiently can also help keep your air quality at a healthy level. Look into our Comfort Assurance Program at Ace Hardware Home Services and let us help you keep your home air quality high.
For more information on how we can help you maintain a healthy air quality level, or for any of your heating, geothermal and air conditioning needs, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services. Along with your air quality, we want to help restore your peace of mind.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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