Surely you know your ABC's, but what about your VOCs?
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are like ghosts — you can't see them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there!
They pollute the environment and lurk in drinking water.
Luckily, you can spook these creeps by installing a multi-stage water filter in your home.
This article gives the 411 on VOCs and why they’re harmful to your health.
Let’s dive in!
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are liquids or solids that quickly evaporate into a gas.
VOCs are a major cause of pollution in the environment, and are commonly found in the groundwater near industrial businesses like cleaners and petrol stations.
These toxins enter the environment due to industrial dumping, leaks, spills, and inappropriate disposal of domestic goods.
VOCs pose the biggest threat to people who get their water from private wells and who live in rural, agricultural areas.
The majority of VOCs are thanks to human activities.
Yes, we are the culprits!
VOCs leak into the earth as chemical waste.
They travel through aquifers to lakes and reservoirs after invading the groundwater.
Rainfall then transports these toxins to water sources like wells and municipal plants.
Many VOCs are produced due to chemical interactions that occur during the water disinfection process.
Other VOCs start as gas pollutants in the air and then enter the water later on — they lack the unique taste and odor associated with many airborne VOCs (such as gasoline).
The most common types of VOCs are:
MTBE is a gasoline additive.
When lead was no longer permitted to be used in gasoline, MTBE replaced it to increase the octane of the fuel.
From spills to underground storage tank leaks, MTBE pollutes large areas of groundwater and soil.
PCE is a solvent byproduct that is widely used in the dry cleaning industry.
It’s also used as a degreaser in industrial settings and is found in consumer items like shoe polish and commercial solvents.
The most common VOC in drinking water is trihalomethane.
Municipal water treatment plants produce it as a byproduct of chlorine disinfection.
When the chlorine mixes with organic matter in water, like dirt and debris, it creates trihalomethane — yikes!
The higher the concentration and the longer the exposure, the worse VOCs are to your health.
Short-term exposure can cause symptoms like headaches and asthma.
Long-term exposure, on the other hand, can lead to liver and kidney damage, as well as cause cancer.
Here’s a quick list of some of the most common side effects:
If the VOC levels in your residential water exceed the federal limits, you should not drink or cook with the water.
You may even need to avoid using your water for bathing, showering, hand washing, dishwashing, and operating appliances such as dishwashers or laundry machines.
WARNING: Do not boil the water since VOCs can evaporate into the air and be inhaled.
It’s also a good idea to ventilate indoor spaces to reduce the chance of breathing evaporated VOCs.
Most important of all, you should filter your water to remove VOCs once and for all…
Some filtration systems are capable of removing VOCs.
Activated carbon filter systems are the most popular type of filtration.
These can be attached to the faucet, or anywhere water enters your house.
When selecting a filter system, ensure that it is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) to remove chemicals from your water.
Keep in mind that filtration systems must be serviced regularly to function effectively.
That most effective way to remove VOCs, however, is reverse osmosis…
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the best way to remove VOCs for good.
They combine carbon filters with a semi-permeable RO membrane to stop VOCs in their tracks.
If a little bit of VOCs somehow manage to sneak past the RO membrane, the carbon post-filter will catch them before they reach your faucet.
When it comes down to it, VOCs are a HUGE health concern and are detected in 1 out of 5 water sources in the United States.
Not only do they pollute the environment, but exposure to them has been linked to a poor immunity, liver damage, and an increased risk of cancer.
The multi-stage carbon filters used in Cloud Water Filters eliminate 99% of VOCs and are NSF-certified.
They also have built-in software to monitor water quality for pollutants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can track the results in real-time on our app.
So say “Sayonara” to VOCs and say “Yes” to a healthier you!
Click here to learn more.
