ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of sources, concentrations, and health effects of volatile organic compounds in indoor air. Great emphasis is now being placed on the spectrum of volatile organic compounds which may be found indoors and on the potential health effects of exposure to these compounds. Organic compounds are part of almost all materials and products in use, such as, for example, in construction materials, furnishings, combustion fuels, consumer products, and pesticides. Principal sources indoors are: cooking and heating fuels; aerosol propellents such as propane and butane; and cleaning compounds, glues, and thinner solvents such as hexane. Various compounds found indoors have been associated with a number of symptoms. Typical tight-building-syndrome symptoms are: headache, irritation of the eyes and of mucous membranes, irritation of the respiratory system, drowsiness, fatigue, and general malaise. Health effects from exposure to organic compounds at the low levels found indoors are difficult to determine.
