VOCs in the home risks

You may or may not have heard of VOCs before, if you haven’t or you don’t know what they are, you have come to the right place. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds, these compounds are potentially harmful chemicals that unfortunately can be found in a number of different products and materials around the home. VOCs are harmful to the environment and our health, which is why we are working to raise awareness about their side effects and ways in which you can avoid VOCs in the home risks.

What are VOCs in the home?

There are a number of household products that contain VOCs, this includes anything from cleaning products to the paint on your walls and even your carpets. We have compiled a list of some common sources of VOCs in the home:

• Paint
• New carpets / rugs
• New cabinets / furniture
• New beds
• Disinfectant sprays
• Air fresheners
• Spray deodorant
• Cosmetics

Although it may seem that VOCs are found in almost every household item, fortunately, as awareness of VOCs in the home risks has increased, more and more companies are emerging that provide eco friendly and toxic free products- one of them being Victory Colours who have worked hard to create a specially formulated low VOC paint.

VOCs in the home risks

Not only are many people unaware of the fact VOCs can be found in many household products, many of us don’t realise the risks associated with VOCs. Not only do volatile organic compounds negatively affect human health, they are also bad for the environment as they contribute to the ground level ozone layer. 

Short term exposure to VOCs in the home risks:

• Nose, throat and eye irritation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headaches
• Dizziness and light-headedness
• Difficulty breathing 
• Allergic skin reactions

Long term exposure to VOCs in the home risks:

• Liver damage
• Kidney damage
• Cancer
• Prolonged eye, throat and nose irritation
• Chronic headaches & nausea
• Central nervous system damage

VOCs in the home risks: Paint

One common source of VOCs in the home is paint, many of us are all too familiar with that strong fresh paint smell that comes with the redecoration of a room in the home. It's not pleasant and what’s more, it can cause a number of nasty side effects like nausea, dizziness and headaches. What many people don’t realise is that the cause behind this chemical smell is often in fact the smell released by volatile organic compounds being released into the air as the paint dries. 

Victory Colours have created an entire range of paint products that are ultra low VOC and minimal odour meaning you don’t have to worry about bringing any extra VOCs into the home next time you decide to revamp your home décor. Here are some of the extraordinary benefits of Victory Colours paint:

• Low VOC paint
• Eco friendly
• Toxic free
• Low odour
• Vegan/ cruelty free
• High opacity
• Durable
• Washable properties