VOC's

Perfumed Menace

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Outline• What are VOCs?• Where do they come from?• What health effects do VOCs cause?• How can I tell if I have any?• What limits are there?• Sampling methods• How can I control them?

– Scent-free policies

• Conclusion

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What are VOCs?Volatile organic compounds

(From Oxford English Dictionary)

• Volatile - easily evaporated at normal temperatures

• Organic - relating to or denoting compounds containing carbon and chiefly or ultimately of biological origin

• Compounds - substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions

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What are VOCs?• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are

chemicals that evaporate easily at room temperature

• VOC exposures are often associated with an odor while other times there is no detectable odor. Both can be harmful.

• There are thousands of different VOCs produced and used in our daily lives.

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What are they really?• VOC’s are the odors and aromas that we smell

all around us– Perfumes– Fragrances for soaps and shampoos– Hairspray– Deodorants– Scented candles, incense, potpourri– Cosmetics– Washroom deordorizer– Flowers, plants and trees

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What are they really?• And ………..

– Smelly socks– My son’s sneakers– My dog after being out in the rain– Grandma’s pot roast– The can of “new car smell” that I bought – Bovine flatulence

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Perfumes and Fragrances

• $22 000 000 000 sales worldwide in 2004

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Fragrance ChemicalsIngredients that Smell of Danger

• 90% of fragrances are synthetic chemical, with as many as 7000 VOCs

• Some of these masking scents are designed to cover up unpleasant or unwanted odours inherent in a product, but some work by deadening our ability to smell the offending odour.

• Of fragrance chemicals, “84% of these ingredients have never or only minimally been tested for human toxicity”

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Calvin Klein's Perfume “Eternity“A Shortcut to Eternity?

• “Eternity” perfume has been known since 1995 as toxic to the respiratory tract and nervous system

• Analysis by two independent laboratories found of the 41 identified ingredients some had no toxicity data available, some were inadequate, and some were known to be toxic to the skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, and reproductive and nervous systems by routes including skin absorption and inhalation.

• Two ingredients were identified as carcinogens

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Living in a Fragranced WorldNo Scents in Labelling

• “Unscented”, “Fragrance-Free” “Hypoallergenic”, “Natural”, “Green” “Floral”, “Outdoor Fresh” and “Environmentally Friendly” are words that sound good but have no legal definition. They are used in industry virtually without restriction. Buyer beware.

• “Scent-free” may only mean that the product has less scent than a scented version of the same product from that manufacturer.

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VOCs are also Emitted by Thousands of Products In our Workplaces

• paints, lacquers and strippers• cleaning supplies• pesticides• building materials, carpeting and furnishings• office equipment such as copiers and printers, especially new things• correction fluids and carbonless copy paper• graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives,

permanent markers• photographic solutions• Fuel

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Sources of Common VOCsAldehydes Floor materials, wood products

(cabinets, desks, presswood), paints/coatings

Toluene, xylene

Floor materials, furniture, paints, glues

Acetone Cosmetics, perfumes

Methylene chloride

Furniture , pesticide products, paint strippers

Chloroform Chlorinated water

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Factor that influence the emissions of VOCs• Total amount and volatility of VOCs• Distribution of VOCs between the surface and the

interior of material• Time (age of material)• Surface area of the material • Environmental factors such as temperature, air

exchange, and relative humidity (some more than others)

• Chemical reactions in the source (conversions in varnishes and adhesives)

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Relative VolatilityCompound Vapour pressure, kPa at 20°C

Methylene chloride (paint stripper)

47.4

Formaldehyde (glues and resins) 12.5

Toluene (oil-based paint) 3.8

Xylene (oil-based paint) 3.7

Perchloroethylene (dry cleaning fluid)

1.9

See International Chemical Safety Cards at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/products/icsc/dtasht/

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Relative Emission RatesProduct Maximum Emission Rate

(ug/hour/m2)

Oil paints 200 000

Ceiling tile 12 000

Wood veneer 12 000

Dry cleaning 10 000

Water-based paint 9 000

Photocopier 7000

Carpet 6 000

Floor wax 1 000

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VOC Emissions Vs. Age(ug/hour/m2 of total VOCs)

Product 1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month 1 Year

Adhesives 400 100 < 1 0 0

Carpet 600 80 20 10 5

Wood floor 1 000 1 000 900 600 3

Oil-based paints

3 000 000 200 000 0 0 0

Water-based paints

50 000 40 000 20 000 200 20

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VOC distribution• VOC exposure is mostly from indoor sources

because:– VOCs are more concentrated indoors– People spend more time indoors 90 %– New buildings can have VOC concentrations 100 x

outdoor concentrations

• VOCs are everywhere, even in the country– Many come from natural sources

• Decay • Farm wastes• Flowers, plants, trees

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VOCs from Natural Sources• Forests• Grasslands• Swamps• Plants

» SWEETGUM TREE

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How VOCs Enter the Body?

• VOCs are present in gas or vapour so enter the body by breathing

• Drinking water, food, beverages containing high levels of VOCs may be harmful to human health

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After VOCs Enter the Body Via Inhalation?

• Some are absorbed by the upper respiratory system• Others, depending on the size and mass are able to

reach deep into the lungs • VOCs can be carried by the blood stream to a

variety of organs ( liver, kidney) or systems (central nervous system and circulatory) depending on their chemical properties (solubility in blood. Volatility to escape blood and their ability to be broken down)

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What are the health effects of VOC exposure?

• Acute– Eye irritation /

watering

– Nose irritation

– Throat irritation

– Headaches

– Nausea / Vomiting

– Dizziness

– Asthma exacerbation

• Chronic– Cancer

– Liver damage

– Kidney damage

– Central Nervous System damage

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Common Carcinogenic VOCs

• Benzene• Cigarette smoke• Carbon black• Carbon tetrachloride• Chloroform• Diesel/gasoline

engine exhaust• Formaldehyde

• Gasoline• Methylene chloride• Naphthalene• Perchloroethylene• PCB• Styrene• Toulene diisocyanate

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So Do I Have VOCs?

• Quick answer – You do. VOCs are everywhere!!!

• So what is the real question???

–Do I have too much?????

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Facts & Findings

• TVOC levels indoors are generally 10 to 100 times higher than outdoor levels.

• TVOC levels in new buildings and renovated indoor spaces are up to 30 mg/m3

• TVOC levels in non-complaint buildings range from 0.20 to 0.50 mg/m3

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Human Irritation Responses to TVOC Mixtures Concentration (mg/m3)

Health Effect Response Exposure Definition

<0.20 no irritation comfort

0.20 - 3.0 irritation & discomfort

Multiple symptoms

3.0 - 25 Increase in health effects (headaches)

discomfort

>25 additional neurotoxic effects

toxic

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Sampling for VOCs

• Organic Vapour Badges– Advantages

• Easy to use• Lightweight• Low capital cost

– Disadvantages• Lower accuracy• Lower sensitivity• Require longer sampling time

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Sampling for VOCs

• Pumps and filters– Advantages

• Higher sensitivity

• Higher degree of accuracy

• Average sampling time

– Disadvantages• Higher capital cost

• Heavier weight for wearer

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Sampling for VOCs

• Real-time Monitors– Advantages

• Monitoring for unlimited time• Minute by minute reading• Data can be logged into a computer• Can be used as a tracking machine to find sources

– Disadvantages• Often only test for one chemical at a time• Very expensive

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Investigation TechniquesGeneral Screening

• Look for obvious or uncontrolled emissions– Changes or new things– Open containers, overused chemicals

• Use screening techniques to determine the potential sources that may require more sensitive and accurate evaluation or may require action– Collect screening samples using detector tubes or

direct reading instruments.

• Based on screening results, validated sampling procedures may be required to further quantify employee exposures.

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How Can I Get Rid of Them• Scent Free Policies• Chose products that contain low or no VOCs (Environmentally Preferable

Purchasing) • Follow Manufacturer’s instructions/don’t mix products• Control climate – as temperature and humidity increase some chemicals will

off gas more• Air cleaners – look for ones with activated charcoal filtration designed to

remove chemicals from the air.• Remove unused chemicals. Only buy in quantities you will use soon• Off gas products first• Ventilation

– More fresh air; open doors and windows– Local exhaust

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Scent Free Policy Issues• Scope

– Probably include cosmetics, cleaners• What about flowers, Christmas trees, spicy food?• What about odours from outside?

– Visitors? • How will you tell them?• Will you send them home?

• Enforcement – Will the policy be enforced?

• Alternatives – Are you sure there are alternatives to what is being

banned?

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Alternatives to a Scent-Free Policy? • Identify the source of the problem. Reduce

emissions from– building materials– cleaning products

• Ventilation– Ensure that air is being replaced with fresh air, and that

scents are not simply being recycled throughout the building.

• If the source is an employee, try asking the person to wear a lighter scent, or less of it.– As a guideline no scent should be detectable at more than

an arm's length from individual.

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ConclusionsVOCs are everywhere – can’t eliminate

Aim is to control themChoose low VOC products and minimize

how much is usedTiming

Storing (wearhouse- off gas)Time processes ( over weekend )

Ventilation

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