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Outdoor Air:
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Volatile organic compounds are, most simply, chemical fumes. Some, such as
the scent of a rose, occur naturally but in urban areas many are man-made.
Gasoline itself contains several thousand different VOCs. Some VOCs, such as
benzene, are very toxic, whereas others, such as the isoprene emitted by Live
Oak trees, probably are not, at least in reasonable concentrations.
Why are VOCs bad?
VOCs combine with nitrogen oxides in the air to form
ozone, and some VOCs are
carcinogenic or neurotoxic (see Hazardous
Air Pollutants). The health effects of exposure to VOCs vary greatly
by the type of chemical and the concentration. Exposure to high levels of VOCs,
especially those that are neurotoxic, can cause
- nausea;
- headache;
- confusion;
- tremors or seizures;
- difficulty breathing; and even
- death.
BACK TO OUTDOOR AIR
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