Which Workplaces Need to Worry about VOCs?

In brief, volatile organic compounds are molecules wholly or partially composed of carbon atoms bonded either with carbon atoms or other elements that evaporate significantly at room temperature and are mostly insoluble in water. Of course, if you want a properly thorough scientific explanation of what VOCs are, you’ll need a dedicated article, so check out our piece on What Exactly Are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)? 

Where do we find VOCs?

Volatile organic compounds are in everything. Paints, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials, copiers, copy paper, printers, glues, adhesive tape, plasters, wood varnish, nail varnish, lip-sticks, air fresheners, permanent markers – take your pick! Most of us don’t even notice these everyday items, they’re just bland, unremarkable features of our landscape. But reports suggest that all of these objects, and many more, hide harmful volatile organic compounds behind their boring exteriors.

For the most part, humans ingest VOCs through inhalation or through contact with the eyes or skin. But, as with pretty much all pollutants, volatile organic compounds are most dangerous when inhaled, as the vapourised compounds are able to pass through the thin membrane of the lungs into the blood-stream. In general, ingestion of volatile organic compounds induces effects ranging from mild epidermal irritation and irritation of the respiratory tract to generalised corruption of the central nervous system and many forms of cancer. If you’d like to know more how harmful volatile organic compounds can be, there’s a longer run-down here.

The factors at work

OK, so VOCs are everywhere and they’re harmful – but just how exposed am I?

The main occupations which involve regular exposure to volatile organic compounds include:

• Painter-decorators working mainly indoors with poor ventilation, as the most popular brands tend to use acetone ((CH₃)₂CO), a volatile organic compound, as a solvent.
• Those working in poorly-ventilated offices, as many ubiquitous items contain VOCs, items like air fresheners (benzene; C₆H₆), adhesives (benzene; C₆H₆), permanent markers (toluene; C₆H₅CH₃), and toner (styrene; C₆H₅CHCH₂).
• Dry-cleaners, much of the detergents for whose activities contain perchloroethylene (C₂Cl₄).
• Those working in the kitchen of restaurants with active, wood-burning stoves, as most wood contains isoprene (C₅H₈), a naturally-occurring VOC.
• Drivers of all kinds in vehicles fuelled by gasoline, which usually contains methyl tertiary butyl ether (C₅H₁₂O), or diesel, containing both formaldehyde (CH₂O) and benzene (C₆H₆).
• Those performing various forms of oil and gas extraction, activities which tend to release large quantities of ethane (C₂H₆).
• Those working in the manufacture of chemical products, who are at risk of high levels of trichloroethylene (ClCH=CCl₂) exposure during the production and storage processes.

What can you do about it?

Well, the first step in terms of safe-guarding has to be monitoring, to ensure that exposure is at least kept to the lowest possible levels. In industrial conditions, the most viable, and widely-used, method is continuous emission monitoring (CEM), a means of detecting the concentration of contaminants in the air. Instruments designed to perform CEM are principally composed of a sample probe which collects a volume of air, an analyser – whether using ultrared absorption, chemiluminescence, fluorescence, beta ray absorption, etc. – to determine the relevant concentrations and some sort of filtration system to obstruct materials which threaten the system. Such systems come in all manner of varieties, so you’re certain to find something that’s exactly what you’re looking for. For a bit more of a comprehensive overview of continuous emission monitoring, turn to our long-form discussion of What is Continuous Emission Monitoring?