VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS - CALL 1300 382 826 FOR VOC TESTING
Volatile organic compounds are gaseous emmisions from many common household items and products and exposure to them can have long term adverse health effects on people young and old. Although there are no national environmental guidelines ofr exposure to VOC's, they are commonly linked to various health issues and some VOC's have been linked to cancer formation in animals and there is concern about cancer formation in humans from prolonged exposure to certain volatile organic compounds.
As such, all householders should be aware of the quantity of VOC emissions affecting their dwelling. Generally speaking, the level of VOC's within the built environment is often up to ten times higher than the outside levels. Products which emit volatile organic compound gases can include the following: paint, household cleaning products, insulation, pesticides, building materials, dry cleaning chemicals, glues and adhesives.
Insulation products can emit formaldehyde, a volatile organic compound which is considered by the EPA (USA) to be carcinogenic.
Exposure levels
There are no official exposure levels that are either published or controlled in a non industrial environment. However, it is considered that an acceptable exposure level is 0.5 part per million. Our equipment can determine the level of most common voc's, including formaldehyde, in the built environment.
VOC testing and identification procedure
In any indoor air quality inspection procedure, identifying volatile organic compounds gases is critical in determing the health or otherwise of the built environment. If you care enough about your internal environment to have it tested, then VOC testing must form a part of your inspection.
1. Testing
Our aerosol monitors can test the levels of volatile organic compounds in the indoor atmosphere and both measure the amount of VOC's in the indoor air and determine if they are in excess of the accepted particulate count as per recognised environmental standards.
2. Sample
If it is determined by our testing that the particulate count is elevated, we can trap and sample airborne particulates and forward them for testing.
3. Identification and Laboratory testing
Our VOC testing equipment is the most advanced in the industry so you can be assured we will identify any worrying issues with regard to mould in the built environment.
We can have airborne particulates tested and these laboratory tests can determine what type of mould has generated in the dwelling. Lab testing is an optional extra as the value of determining the type of particulate or the type of voc gas is questionable. Often the presence of elevated particulate levels is enough to undertake remedial action without paying to determine the exact type of particulate.
4. Identifying products emitting VOC's in the dwelling
We can also pinpoint the products which are emitting gaseous voc's. Providing this information assists the householder to eliminate or reduce the products emitting voc's.
VOC REMEDIATION
Volatile Organic Compounds are removed from the indoor atmosphere using the same cleansing procedures that are used when removing dust from the indoor air - HEPA filtration vacuuming of the premises and furniture and belongings and air scrubbing of the indoor air to remove airborne particulates. Ventilation is the key to manual reduction of volatile organic compounds.
