Do You Need to Worry About VOCs?

Some pollutants are obvious: Car exhaust, for example, is clearly bad to inhale, so we don’t take deep breaths next to exhaust pipes. Indoors, however, most airborne pollutants are invisible, yet the health impact is just as real, especially since Americans spend lots of time inside.

"People call this a ‘silent epidemic,’ because you can’t see it and everything looks beautiful, but it can be pretty harmful," says Jonsara Ruth, a cofounder of the Parsons School of Design’s Healthy Materials Lab. One major category of indoor air pollutants is volatile organic compounds (VOCs). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common household products—like cleaning supplies, paints, and furniture—often contain VOCs linked to cancers, neurological issues, and birth defects. But if they’re found in such ordinary objects, how can you decrease air pollutants in your home?

"Open your windows. Get a lot of fresh air through, especially when something is new," says Ruth, explaining that VOCs can continue to emanate from new furniture days, weeks, or even years after you bring those items home. You can also ask your municipality how to properly dispose of old or unnecessary products. Ruth recommends choosing furniture made of solid wood (not particleboard or similar materials) to avoid VOCs, skipping furniture with flame retardants, and using mineral based paints, as well as buying from designers  makers, and retailers that practice material transparency.

Keep the air inside free and clear

Top illustration by Scott Wilson.

Photos: Courtesy of respective companies; Jamie Chung with styling by JJ Chan and assisting by Will Kelly (Broan AI Series 160 CFM Energy Recovery Ventilator & Moen EX Series 2 Horsepower Lighted Garbage Disposal).