ABSTRACT
People generally recognize toxic fumes when they see or smell them. Some automobiles can recirculate inside air to prevent the intake of contaminated air from the outside, and are equipped with filters to cleanse the air before it passes through the ventilation system to the cabin. However, for the benefit of all, the far better solution is to reduce or eliminate the toxicity of exhaust gases at their source. There are many more products in the environment that can produce noxious fumes. A photocopier is a product that many people might not normally think of as polluting. In the past, certain paints, wood finishes, waxes, cleaning supplies, pesticides, moth repellents, and many more products have been a significant source of volatile organic compounds linked to the following ill effects. These are: damage to the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system; irritation to the skin, nose, throat, and eyes; and headaches, nausea, loss of coordination, and fatigue.
