255MTBE
MTBE was banned in the US around 2004 in order to limit further contamination of drinking
water aquifers primarily from leaking underground gasoline storage tanks where MTBE
was used as an octane booster and oxygenated-additive.
Formaldehyde
Many building materials such as paints, adhesives, wall boards, and ceiling tiles slowly
emit formaldehyde, which irritates the mucous membranes and can make a person
irritated and uncomfortable. Formaldehyde emissions from wood are in the range of 0.02
- 0.04 ppm. Relative humidity within an indoor environment can also affect the emissions
of formaldehyde. High relative humidity and high temperatures allow more vaporization of
formaldehyde from wood-materials.
Health Risks
Respiratory, allergic, or immune effects in infants or children are associated with man-
made VOCs and other indoor or outdoor air pollutants. Some VOCs, such as styrene and
limonene, can react with nitrogen oxides or with ozone to produce new oxidation products
and secondary aerosols, which can cause sensory irritation symptoms. Unspecified VOCs
are important in the creation of smog.
Health effects include:
Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage
to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in
animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. Key signs or
symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs include conjunctival irritation, nose
and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, declines in
serum cholinesterase levels, nausea, emesis, epistaxis, fatigue, dizziness.
The ability of organic chemicals to cause health effects varies greatly from those that are
highly toxic, to those with no known health effects. As with other pollutants, the extent and
nature of the health effect will depend on many factors including level of exposure and
length of time exposed.
Eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory
impairment are among the immediate symptoms that some people have experienced soon
after exposure to some organics. At present, not much is known about what health effects
occur from the levels of organics usually found in homes. Many organic compounds are
known to cause cancer in animals; some are suspected of causing, or are known to cause,
cancer in humans.
Reducing Exposure
To reduce exposure to these toxins, one should buy products that contain Low-VOC’s or
No VOC’s. Only the quantity which will soon be needed should be purchased, eliminating
stockpiling of these chemicals.
Use products with VOC’s in well ventilated areas. When designing homes and buildings,
design teams can implement the best possible ventilation plans, call for the best
mechanical systems available, and design assemblies to reduce the amount of infiltration
into the building. These methods will help improve indoor air quality, but by themselves
they cannot keep a building from becoming an unhealthy place to breathe.