VOCs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressures under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. Volatile organic compounds are numerous and varied. Although ubiquitous in nature and modern industrial society, they may also be harmful or toxic.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates VOCs in the air, water, and land. The Safe Drinking Water Act implementation even includes a short list labeled VOCs in connection with contaminants which are organic and volatile. The EPA also publishes testing methods for chemical compounds, some of which refer to VOCs. In addition to drinking water, VOCs are regulated in discharges to waters (sewage treatment and stormwater disposal), as hazardous waste, but not in non industrial indoor air. The United States Department of Labor and it's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulate VOC exposure in the workplace. Volatile organic chemicals which are hazardous material would be regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration while being transported.

VOCs found in water sources include benzene and MTBE which are known carcinogens that can cause cancer at high exposure rates.

Both activated carbon water filters and reverse osmosis systems are effective at removing VOCs from drinking water.

* Some info courtesy of Wikipedia.

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