Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are widely used in products but can have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Countries have established VOC regulations to address emissions and disposal, but these regulations vary greatly. VOCs can contribute to smog, endanger plant health, and contaminate water supplies. The EPA has set limits on the amount of VOCs in products and water to protect human health.
A volatile organic compound (VOC) is generally defined as an organic compound that evaporates or vaporizes under normal conditions. VOCs are widely used in products such as fuels, raw materials and refrigerants. Despite their popularity, VOCs can have adverse effects on human health and can cause harm to the environment. For protection reasons, many countries have established VOC regulations to address issues such as emissions and disposal.
These regulations tend to vary greatly from country to country. Part of the reason for this is because each nation usually has its own regulatory definition. In the United States, many of the VOC regulations are set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). States, however, can establish their own definitions and develop their own additional VOC regulations. California has been very proactive in this regard, often setting standards used by other states.
One type of VOC regulations are limits on the amount that can be used in various products, such as architectural paints and coatings. Some VOC limits fall under the federal Clean Air Act due to their potential to cause or contribute to excessive ozone levels that violate national ambient air quality standards. Ozone is an environmental pollutant that contributes to smog.
Smog caused by VOCs not only endangers human health, but also endangers plant health. Ground-level ozone has been found to cause significant losses of agricultural crops and damage to forests. The EPA conducted tests and found that architectural coatings were a large contributing factor to this type of damage and that it was therefore essential to limit the amount of emissions from this source.
VOC regulations also strive to protect the water supply. The EPA estimates that a significant amount of water in the United States is contaminated with VOCs. Benzene, a component of gasoline, is associated with anemia and leukemia. Damage to the brain, liver and lungs can result from vinyl chloride, which is used as a solvent. Chloroform, a byproduct of water chlorination, can cause liver and kidney damage.
Because the potential danger of drinking VOCs is so great, the EPA found it necessary to control their concentration in water. VOC regulations relating to water do not require the water to be absolutely pure. Rather, water can have a maximum level of contaminant. If the water has concentration levels below this standard, it is generally considered safe to drink. People are strongly advised to take extra care if a water supply contains two VOCs, even if both are below the maximum allowable concentration.
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