Volatile Organic Compound. VOC’s are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.

A micron is a unit of measure; one millionth of a meter. A meter is approximately 39.5 inches. For comparison, the average diameter of a human hair is 100 microns and the smallest particle the human eye can discern is 10 microns.

It is important to know that the human upper respiratory tract is only capable of stopping particles that are 10 microns in size and larger. Particles smaller than 10 microns are considered 100% respirable, meaning they escape the body’s defense mechanisms.

A particle can be anything from a grain of sand, a spot of dust or pesticide brought in by your shoes. It can also be smoke and gaseous types of elements in the air.