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All available methods for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are selective, allowing for precise measurement and quantification. No single method can measure all coexisting VOCs. Some measurements are referred to as "TVOC concentration"-the total concentration of multiple VOCs present in the air simultaneously.
However, although not all VOCs are actually measured, only a subset of them, each method measures its own specific subset of VOCs, and this subset can vary considerably. Therefore, different TVOC measurements can produce substantially different TVOC concentrations depending on the VOCs contained in its subset.
Another challenge is that individual VOCs can have very different toxicities and effects. Therefore, integrating them all into a single overall measurement is unlikely to produce a useful toxicity metric. That said, the TVOC approach is inexpensive and can provide guidance on overall levels of indoor pollution.
Furthermore, consumers, especially those experiencing allergy symptoms, are increasingly demanding indoor air quality analysis and starting to test their own home environments. "Home testing kits" are reasonably priced. One such kit, from Weaverton Analyst, is priced at £140. It consists of a tube and a pump that the user inserts for a period of time and then returns to the lab for air sampling analysis.
However, currently, most post-construction occupational studies use CO2 (carbon dioxide) as a representative of air quality, recommending a guideline of 1,000 ppm CO2. The disadvantages of using CO2 as a proxy are obvious. This is because the source of CO2 is not strongly correlated with the source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).