Volatile Organic Compounds Fact Sheet

Overview

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are certain organic chemicals in solid or liquid state that can, because of their volatile chemical state, be emitted as gases.  Products containing these organic chemicals may be sources of airborne VOC emissions.  Many common household products contain organic chemicals that emit VOCs.  Because VOCs react with nitrogen oxide (another common air pollutant) to form ground-level ozone (smog), a number of U.S. jurisdictions have adopted regulations that limit the amount of VOCs that can be contained in certain consumer products. In addition, some VOCs may have direct adverse health effects, although compounds with such effects are typically addressed on an individual basis.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the requirements of VOCs legislation and helpful information to stay abreast those requirements.