Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are gases that are emitted into the air from everyday products such as carpet, paint and cosmetics, or from processes such as cooking, burning wood and smoking.
Some are harmful by themselves, including some that cause cancer. Additionally, they can also react with other gases and form other pollutants after they have been emitted into the air.
Common examples of VOCs that may be present in our daily lives are: benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene.
Fun Fact
Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.