VOC: health risk assessment
Health risk assessment studies of VOCs since the 1980s
While outdoor pollution has always attracted the interest of researchers, indoor pollution has only been the subject of in-depth studies since the second half of the 1980s. It was time to take an interest in it, because in urban areas, we spend more than 80% of our time indoors (at home, at work, in the car, at school, etc.), breathing many pollutants specific to closed spaces.
Generally speaking, sources of indoor pollution come from:
- of our domestic activities : smoking, housework, DIY
- construction materials : floor coverings, paints, insulation materials, etc.
- of use home equipment : heating devices, hot water production, air conditioning, etc.
- Let us point out that part of the indoor pollution comes directly from outside air : pollens, carbon monoxide…
Volatile Organic Compounds, household products are recognized as pollutants
To give you some examples, household products actually emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are molecules in gaseous form recognized as pollutants (National Agency for Food Safety). Wood coverings reconstituted and plywood emit formaldehyde, one of the most toxic VOCs . Biological compounds (mites, animal hair) nestled in our textiles and chemical particles from devices cooking and heating create dust , They are also responsible for the deterioration of indoor air quality.
Some of these pollutants appear at a higher concentration rate in indoor air than in outdoor air ; the question is really to know their level of danger!
The goal: to correlate indoor air quality and breathing
Whether initiated by the Air Quality Observatory, the World Health Organization, the National Agency for Health Security and many others, studies and evaluation tests are all aimed at finding cause and effect relationships between indoor pollution in our homes and respiratory diseases , such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (reduced breathing capacity) or lung cancer.
In this context, the most common studies are epidemiological studies. They are based on analysis of compounds present directly in people's homes followed (installation of sensors), but also by inventory of usual sources of indoor pollution and questionnaires to learn about habits and assess the time spent daily in their homes.
Assessment of VOCs on health: difficult tests to carry out
Overall, these indoor air quality studies are difficult to conduct. It is a question of quantify pollutants, the duration of exposure of a person and of correlate this data with their respiratory health . The groups tested always come from the same environment, therefore exposed to the same sources of external pollution .
VOC risk assessment tests: homemakers most affected
The synthesis " Air pollution and lungs - Epidemiological approach " proposed by Inserm (National Institute of Health and Medical Research) highlights the health risks of VOCs and other indoor air pollutants . In general, The synthesis lists the sources of indoor pollution and the observed effects on breathing, ranging from simple irritations to more serious infections or cancer. For example, there is a link between:
- THE environmental tobacco (link to the effect of tobacco) And cancer.
- combustion of cooking appliances and impaired respiratory functions for people who regularly cook.
- the emission of VOCs from household cleaning products and asthma. This disease is said to more regularly affect people known as “stay-at-home” and those responsible for housework.
Health risk assessment of VOCs: indoor pollution ranked 10th risk factor
In general , studies carried out over the last twenty years on the subject of indoor air pollution, allow us to affirm that:
- Indoor air pollution increases risks irritation, allergies and symptoms of chronic respiratory diseases.
- 1.5 to 2 million deaths per year worldwide can be attributed to indoor air pollution (minimum estimates).
- Indoor air pollution is ranked 10th risk factor for death worldwide.
- Poor and developing countries are the most affected by indoor air pollution, because household products and kitchen appliances are less standardized (use of more toxic fuels, such as fuel oil, coal, little awareness of good practices and the risks linked to the emission of VOCs, etc.).
- always on a global scale, Women are more affected by indoor air pollution than men.
An eco-friendly air purifier to keep your interior healthy
For eliminate VOCs And to purify indoor air , many processes are available on the market. air purifiers may be effective against certain pollutants depending on their composition and operation. The Airpurlabs air sanitizer captures and destroys VOCs so the formaldehyde in a 100% ecological approach. Thus, you are assured of improving air quality thanks to an ecological, economical and efficient process! Protect your health from Volatile Organic Compounds simply and without any constraints with the Airpurlabs air purifier , stylish and discreet. To install in the living room, bedroom, office or car, depollute indoor air has never been so simple.
In France, our interiors benefit from materials and equipment increasingly monitored and standardized with regard to their pollutant emissions. However, our household products still emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) . Our Home appliances create dust potentially toxic. Worse, Some air fresheners and deodorant sprays pollute even though they are sold to purify the air in your home. In this context, do not hesitate to use our air purifier. He is at based on activated carbon and acetoacetamide, two anti-pollutants responsible for capturing VOCs . You can use it to improve air quality in your interior or in your car .
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OUR Airpurlabs air purifier allows to effectively improve the indoor air quality . If you also want to clean the air at your place, Our experts are at your disposal .