"Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors."
See: Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality
- EPA's Technical Overview of Volatile Organic Compounds
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – from the National Library of Medicine
- Volatile Organic Compounds in the Nation's Ground Water and Drinking Water - From the United States Geological Survey
- EPA's Consumer Products: National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards
- EPA's Healthy Indoor Painting Practices
- The Master Painters Institute (MPI)'s Approved Product List Exit - Gives VOC ranges for some paint and remodeling products
- The Carpet and Rug Institute’s “Green Label Plus Program” Exit- A voluntary testing program for low-VOC carpets
- Search the Indoor Air Quality FAQ portal (Type VOC in the upper left search box). Although it is similar to this database, questions are answered by subject area experts.
- Visit the Indoor Air Quality Web site
- To inquire about state standards, contact your state environmental agency - There may also be state emission standards for VOCs.
- Contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (SDWH) - about VOCs in drinking water.