A number of studies going back more than 20 years have confirmed that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can have a detrimental impact on human health. This is true whether they are found in homes, schools, office buildings or industrial locations.
When chemists use the term volatile, they are usually referring to a liquid that evaporates at room temperature. The word organic means it is a compound that contains carbon. VOCs are gases invisible to the naked eye and often odorless as well. When they are detected using monitoring systems in homes, occupants typically can take steps to minimize or eliminate them far more quickly and easily than might be done in a commercial or industrial setting.