With modern building technology and new inventions occurring every day, there is a surplus of indoor air contaminants in our homes.

The average person breathes over 2,000 gallons of air daily—almost enough to fill a swimming pool, according to the American Lung Association. And unfortunately, you could be breathing in VOCs and PFAS with each inhale.

While these potentially damaging compounds are impossible to avoid altogether, making a few small tweaks can help reduce your exposure. Here's what you need to know about keeping PFAS and VOC contamination to a minimum at home.

The health risks of VOCs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of organic chemicals that easily evaporate into the air at room temperature. According to the EPA, levels of VOCs indoors can be two to five times higher than outdoors on average.

These chemicals can be released by a wide variety of household products including paints and coatings, cleaners, vinyl flooring materials, carpets and rugs, and personal care products. Gas stoves and certain heating appliances can also emit VOCs during use. The more VOC-containing products we have, the higher our risk of potential side effects.

In the short term, VOC exposure can lead to symptoms like eye, nose, and throat irritation. VOCs can be particularly aggravating for those with chronic pulmonary diseases like asthma.

Read the full article here:  https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/reduce-vocs-and-pfas-at-home