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Nor is VOC a single compound. Rather, the term encompasses a wide range of organic compounds that can be released into the atmosphere of a room or workplace in quantities and proportions that vary over time. They are numerous, diverse, and ubiquitous. In fact, they are often intentionally introduced into homes and workplaces in the form of air fresheners, odor-removing products, and the like.
Around 1,000 chemicals evaporate and are released into the air we breathe in our homes and workplaces.
Indoor air quality is rarely monitored. However, approximately 90% of the human life cycle is spent indoors. Therefore, the air quality inside buildings has a significant impact on health.
Factors such as moisture, or the presence of mold and fungi, are obviously relevant here, as is the chemical composition of the indoor air. In urban areas, indoor VOC levels are often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels.
In rural areas, this situation can be reversed. In their natural state, wood panels release VOCs as they live and grow; the air in woodlands and forests can have higher concentrations than many indoor environments.
There are many sources of VOCs in indoor environments. Wood panels emit VOCs indoors, whether in solid form as beams and columns, or as engineered wood-based panels, flooring, or furniture.
But so do products that don't contain wood panels: Construction-related materials like paints and varnishes, adhesives, cement, carpet and vinyl flooring, and insulation products all emit VOCs. Products like air fresheners, cleaning cosmetics, upholstery, and foams are other sources of indoor VOCs, as are activities like smoking, cooking, and burning fuels.