Antique Collection - Environmental Information

VOC is short for Volatile Organic Compounds. These are organic compounds with high enough vapor pressure under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. The most common VOC is methane, the primary component of natural gas and also released in agriculture and when burning biomass such as wood. Common artificial VOCs include paint thinners, dry cleaning solvents and gasoline. Even trees are an important biological source of VOC.

Many VOCs are found around the house, such as the solvents used in wood preservatives, paint, varnishes and chemicals for sealing and finishing home interiors. Some furnishings, carpet backing, plastics and cosmetics also contribute to sick building syndrome because of their high vapor pressure.

As these products are being used or when components oxidize, vapors of VOCs escape into the ambient air and contribute to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Many VOCs, especially methane, are greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency has found concentrations of VOCs in indoor air to be 2 to 5 times greater than in outdoor air.

Realizing a need to reverse the negative environmental impact of many VOCs, local, regional and state governments in many countries have, during the past several years, put in place ever more stringent regulatioRealizing a need to reverse the negative environmental impact of many VOCs, local, regional and state governments in many countries have, during the past several years, put in place ever more stringent regulations limiting VOC emissions. In the US, California has been on the forefront requiring significantly lower levels of VOC in many products. Many consumers, some with allergies for example, have also helped advance this change in attitudes among manufacturers of products containing VOC.