Volatile Organic Compounds: What They Are and Details You Want to Know

We all know that “new car smell.” We’re conditioned to value that scent because it means we got that bright, shiny, new thing, right? Much like we learn to associate lemon or bleach with a clean house, smells play an important role in everyday life. Ever set up that brand spanking new crib or pulled the tv from its box — and noticed that something in the air?

What does “new” smell like?

Well…We hate to dampen this for you, but what you smell are VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) — a result of off-gassing from common fabrics and synthetic materials all around us. Our cars, electronics, board games, the walls in our homes, all contain VOCs. And the trickiest thing – VOCs can’t be seen, like smoke from cooking, or easily recognized, like that musky smell from mold build-up.

Like smoke and mold, they bring negative impacts to your health by polluting indoor air. Not to fret; we have a solution. We’re in the business of improving your health by improving the air you breathe.

FilterQueen makes it easy to inhale fresh, clean air at home or work. Our Defender eliminates over 300 types of VOCs and other harmful toxins, leaving you with fresh, clean air. Let’s get into the details of VOCs, and how you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

VOCs are becoming a more well-known household term because everyone’s thinking about air quality and cleanliness more than ever. Many of these invisible gasses are harmful to your health, especially for anyone with lung concerns like asthma.

Volatile Organic Compounds include a variety of chemicals that emit gas from solids or liquids at room temperature. So, what does that mean?

Basically, many items we commonly see in our homes and workplaces contain harmful chemicals. A lot of these materials slowly release chemicals into the air (called off-gassing). Sometimes we can’t see or smell these chemicals, and other times they’re obvious. 

Everyday Household Products:

• Paints
• Furniture (cribs are a big one²)
• Disinfectants
• Cleaning Solution
• Aerosol Sprays
• Air Fresheners (ironic!)
• Moth Repellent
• Hobby Supplies
• Dry Cleaning (yup!)

Everyday Business Products:

• Office Furnishings
• Copiers
• Printers
• Carbonless Copy Paper

VOCs tend to accumulate indoors, and concentrations can be ten times higher when compared to outdoor air quality¹. After looking over that list, it makes sense. The good news? You can do something about it once you know, right?!

Since mainstream options are full of harmful chemicals, one step is to start looking for alternatives.

Like…

Switching to non-toxic cleaning products.

Using wool dryer balls instead of fabric softener.

Choosing products with limited scents.

Our air purifier removes over 300 gasses and odors, while ALSO removing 99.99% of harmful particulate pollutants from the air (think bacteria and viruses). We specially make our own Medi-Filter cartridge and accompanying activated charcoal wrap to capture toxins including VOCs down to 0.1 micron in size. Improving the air in your space at home, or in the office is a healthy decision for everyone.

Numerous studies look at the harmful effects of volatile organics compounds on our health. While we can make different purchasing choices, it’s hard to completely avoid VOCs altogether.

One study highlights VOCs in apartment buildings at their highest levels during the winter months.³ This spike is likely due to poor ventilation (windows closed) and increased concentrations of VOCs in the environment (think Black Friday and Christmas sales). Higher levels of VOCs mean you’re breathing them into your body, and thus more likely to notice negative physical symptoms.

Negative Side Effects from Inhaling VOCs¹:

• Headache
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Eye, Nose, & Throat Irritation
• Loss of Coordination
• Nosebleed
• Liver & Kidney Damage
• Cancer

Obviously, no one wants to deal with poor health — and cleaner air can make a difference in overall health according to the EPA and other sources. The quickest way to make a noticeable difference in indoor air quality? Buy non-toxic household products and invest in our Defender air purifier. The quality of air you breathe makes a world of difference. We’ve been industry leaders advocating for clean air and better health for more than 90 years. Our customers trust our air purifiers for good reason:

The Defender air purifier is 3x better than standard HEPA filters!

Our unique High-Efficiency Gas Absorption (HEGA) charcoal wrap removes harmful VOCs, toxins, smoke, pet dander, and lingering odors. So you can work, play, relax, and enjoy your family time — without having to worry about what’s in your air.

From a comfort standpoint, removing nasty odors is a huge plus. From a health standpoint, removing VOCs is a smart choice.

Choosing to invest in a high-quality air purifier means investing in the health of everyone in your space.

When deciding to improve your indoor air quality, whether at home or work, it’s hard to know what air purifier works best. Research plays an important role, and we encourage your due diligence.

We do make it easy for you: Not just any air purifier removes VOCs because they’re incredibly small (most can’t be seen with the naked eye.) 

FilterQueen’s proprietary charcoal wrap and better-than-HEPA Medi-Filter Cartridge do the job right, helping to keep you healthy and comfortable.

FilterQueen has been in business since 1928, and we stand by our mission to provide better air and healthier lives to our customers. We’ve been in the game longer — and our research and development speak for itself.

We proudly assemble our products in the USA and meet important Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines (like being ozone-free and not producing UV light).

Defender Air Purifier Key Benefits:

• Reduces risk of exposure to bacteria and viruses
• FDA-Cleared Class II Medical Device
• Eliminates and destroys SARS-CoV-2 virus
• Assembled in the USA
• Lifetime perpetual warranty
• 360° air intake and output
• Modern design
• Lightweight
• Portable
• Quiet

We’re so confident you’ll notice a huge difference in your space using the Defender air purifier, we offer a 100% refund for 30 days!

You can remove VOCs from the air in your space to protect yourself and those you love. Choose FilterQueen’s Defender air purifier to enhance your indoor air quality. Breathe better and live healthier, day in and day out.

Sources:

1. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24548111/
3. https://europepmc.org/article/med/12950592

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