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All available VOC measurement methods are selective in what they can measure and accurately quantify. No single method can measure all VOCs present together. Some measurements are called "TVOC concentrations"-the total concentration of multiple VOCs present in the air at once.
However, although not all VOCs are actually measured, only a subset of them. Each method measures its own specific subset of VOCs, and the subsets can vary greatly. Therefore, different TVOC measurements can produce substantially different TVOC concentrations, depending on the VOCs included in their subset.
Another difficulty is that individual VOCs can have very different toxicities and effects. Therefore, combining them all into one overall measurement is unlikely to produce a useful metric of toxicity. That said, the TVOC method is inexpensive and can provide guidance on the overall level of indoor pollution.
Furthermore, consumers, especially those experiencing allergy symptoms, are increasingly demanding indoor air quality analysis and are testing their own home environments. Affordable home testing kits are available, including one from Waverton Analytical, priced at £140. It consists of a tube and pump that the user inserts for a set period of time and then returns to a laboratory for analysis of the sampled air.
However, most post-construction occupational studies currently use CO2 (carbon dioxide) as a proxy for air quality. A guideline of 1,000 ppm CO2 is recommended. The drawbacks of using CO2 as a proxy are obvious. This is because the sources of CO2 are poorly correlated with those of VOCs.