Traditionally, we think of polluted outdoor air near large cities as the most dangerous.
However, studies have been done that show that indoor air can actually be even more polluted and hazardous to your health.
This is due to a variety of different chemicals present in your home.
One such family of chemicals are known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.
Solids and liquids can both emit VOCs.
These can be a multitude of different gasses that can cause detrimental short and long-term health effects.
Exposure to VOCs can cause:

• Irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Skin allergic reactions

Additionally, some VOCs cause cancer in animals and are suspected to cause cancer in humans.
Others are known human carcinogens.
However, we do not yet know the level of exposure necessary to cause such severe health effects.
One main source of VOCs is paint.
Paint can contain benzene, which is a known human carcinogen.
To help protect you and your family from benzene exposure, you should stay away from areas that are being painted and keep them well-ventilated.
Thankfully, most VOC emissions are made when the paint is fresh, so after it dries, you are much safer from harm.
However, you should throw away paint supplies and try to use low VOC paints.
A surprising emitter of VOCs is dry cleaning.
When clothes are dry cleaned, they are often exposed to a chemical called perchloroethylene.
Perchloroethylene is known to cause cancer in animals, which may indicate that it does the same to humans.
Getting your clothes properly dried and pressed can help clean them of perchloroethylene, but if your dry-cleaned clothes smell heavily of chemicals, you should air them out and let them dry properly in a well-ventilated area before you wear them.
Methylene chloride is another VOC that is emitted by things like paint strippers and aerosol spray paint.
Like perchloroethylene, methylene chloride causes cancer in animals, so it may cause cancer in humans as well.
Scientists do know that methylene chloride, once in the body, acts like carbon monoxide.
If you must use a product that contains methylene chloride, only buy the smallest amount possible and discard any extra.
While exposure to VOCs is not always unavoidable, you should be able to trust that your household goods are not emitting enough volatile organic compounds so that these products danger you and your loved ones.
If a consumer product has hurt you or someone you know, you should talk to a personal injury attorney about your options.
For more information, check out the personal injury lawyers from Habush Habush & Rottier, S.
C.
, today.