What Are VOCs?

The EPA says volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, and include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. It says paints, varnishes and wax contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products, and that these products can release organic compounds while in use and, to some degree, while stored.

They build up indoors. The EPA says concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors, up to ten times higher, than outdoors, that studies have found levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors, and that during and for several hours after activities such as paint stripping, levels may be 1,000 times background outdoor levels.

The EPA lists health effects including eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination and nausea, and damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system, and says some organics can cause cancer in animals and some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. When a label says to use a product in a well-ventilated area, the EPA says to go outdoors or to an area with an exhaust fan, or otherwise open windows to bring in as much outdoor air as possible.

Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.

The sources behind this answer

  • Government sourceThe EPA says VOCs are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids and include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. US EPA ↗
  • Government sourceThe EPA says concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors, up to ten times higher, than outdoors, and are emitted by thousands of products. US EPA ↗
  • Government sourceThe EPA says paints, varnishes and wax contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products, which can release organic compounds in use and in storage. US EPA ↗
  • Government sourceThe EPA says levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors, and may reach 1,000 times background outdoor levels during and after activities such as paint stripping. US EPA ↗
  • Government sourceThe EPA lists VOC health effects including eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea and damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system, and says some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. US EPA ↗
  • Government sourceThe EPA says that if a label calls for a well-ventilated area, use the product outdoors or where there is an exhaust fan, or otherwise open windows for as much outdoor air as possible. US EPA ↗

Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.

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