By Sophie the Sniffer – Your Indoor Air Quality Watchdog
What Are VOCs?
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are a group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature. They’re not one single thing — it’s a whole toxic buffet of gases, some naturally occurring, many synthetic.
They’re invisible, often odourless, and yet they’re all around you. That “new paint smell”? VOCs. That lingering lemony-clean scent? Probably VOCs too.
Common Household Sources of VOCs
| Item | VOC Examples | When Released |
|---|---|---|
| Paint, varnishes, adhesives | Toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene | While drying and sometimes long after |
| Cleaning products | Formaldehyde, limonene, ethanol | During and after use |
| Air fresheners & scented candles | Benzene, acetone, terpenes | While burning or evaporating |
| Pressed wood furniture (MDF) | Formaldehyde | Constant low-level off-gassing |
| New carpets or flooring | Styrene, formaldehyde | Post-installation and months after |
| Cosmetics & sprays | Ethanol, isopropanol, acetone | During use |
| Dry-cleaned clothes | Perchloroethylene | Immediately after pickup |
| Stored fuel & hobby supplies | Benzene, toluene | Anytime lids are opened |
How Small Are VOC Particles?
VOCs aren’t technically “particles” like dust or PM2.5. They’re gases, and many are smaller than 0.001 microns — orders of magnitude smaller than PM0.3.
Because they’re molecular in nature, they pass through most air filters unless you use activated carbon or specialty media.
Health Effects of VOC Exposure
| Exposure Level | Potential Health Effects |
|---|---|
| Short-term (acute) | Headaches, nausea, eye/throat irritation, dizziness |
| Medium-term | Allergic skin reactions, breathing difficulty |
| Long-term (chronic) | Liver/kidney damage, nervous system issues, cancer risk |
Children, elderly, and people with respiratory issues are more vulnerable. VOCs can also worsen asthma and disrupt sleep — even at levels that don’t smell strong.
What Can You Do?
- Ventilate when using VOC-heavy products.
- Avoid air fresheners and scented candles — they mask smells and add chemicals.
- Choose low-VOC or no-VOC paints, cleaners, and furnishings.
- Use HEPA+Carbon purifiers that specifically target VOCs.
- Store chemicals tightly and outside living areas.
🛏️ At SmartClean, our assessments go beyond dust. We detect VOC levels, PM count, and even mattress moisture. Because clean isn’t just what you see — it’s what you breathe.
Sophie the Sniffer can smell a synthetic fragrance from two blocks away. She’s not impressed — and neither should you be.
