VOCs and SVOCs - How to Achieve Cleaner Air

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are ubiquitous, from that new car smell to the distinctive chemical scent of a factory-fresh mattress or the dizzying fumes of wet paint. Incorporated into many aspects of modern life, these gases pose numerous risks to human health. As a result, concerns over VOCs have driven new research programs, shaken companies, and stimulated a wave of innovative countermeasures.

The plea for cleaner air has resonated across various sectors, from government agencies to parents. This raises several critical questions: What precisely are VOCs and SVOCs? How do they threaten the environment and human health? How does the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate VOCs and SVOCs to reduce their associated risks? Additionally, what innovative approaches do LGC Standards propose to ease the sampling process and optimize equipment needs?

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The Invisible Threat of VOCs and SVOCs

The key compounds and their fundamental properties discussed in this article are outlined below.

VOCs are organic compounds with a saturation pressure surpassing 10−2 kPa at 25 °C. Typically, semi-VOCs (SVOCs) have lower saturation pressures ranging from 10−2 to 10−8 kPa. For this reason, at lower temperatures, VOCs tend to undergo a gas-phase transition, whereas SVOCs generally remain in their solid or liquid states.¹

Despite a wide array of compounds, such as metallic carbides and carbon dioxide, often omitted from the above definition, the list of known VOCs and SVOCs is extensive. It is, therefore, hardly surprising that such compounds are omnipresent, with a significant number originating from human-made chemicals like pharmaceuticals, refrigerants and paints.

The EPA has found that, among the various VOCs and SVOCs, many compounds are hazardous to the environment and humans. Depending on the concentration and nature of these specific compounds, their health impacts can range from short-term to long-term, often manifesting in indoor environments.² Some VOCs have been linked with headaches, eye, nose and throat irritation, and worryingly, cancer and organ damage.³

EPA Methods for Safer Air

To help protect human health and the environment, the EPA has published a series of ‘methods’ – standardized analytical procedures – for identifying and quantifying various substances in environmental samples. Below, several key EPA methods related to VOCs and SVOCs are outlined.

Method 8260D, last revised in 2018, is a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) protocol used for identifying and quantifying VOCs that occur in a variety of environmental matrices.

Method 8260D is particularly useful when analyzing hazardous waste samples and is often utilized in environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance activities. It allows for the detection of a wide array of VOCs, such as toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), alongside a multitude of additional organic compounds that may be of concern in environmental assessments.⁴

In alignment with Method 8260D, Method 5035 delineates a closed-system purge-and-trap technique for VOC analysis. Primarily designed for samples with low concentrations of VOCs, Method 5035 can also be used for samples with high concentrations. This can be achieved by using the aqueous purge-and-trap procedure outlined in Method 5030.⁵

The EPA has created Method 8270E for detecting and quantifying SVOCs in a variety of environmental matrices. Similar to Method 8260D, Method 8270E is used widely in environmental monitoring and assessment for identifying and measuring specific organic compounds that may be of concern.⁶

EPA Methods 8260D, 5035A, and 8270E provide standardized protocols and reliable analytical techniques. These play a crucial role in protecting human health and the environment and ultimately contributing to the development of sustainable environmental management practices.

International VOC Regulations

Outside the United States, many countries around the world have their own regulations and guidelines to manage and control VOCs.

In the European Union, the ECHA Directive 2004/42/CE restricts the emissions of VOCs from certain varnishes, paints, and vehicle refinishing products. By enforcing these limits and requirements, the directive encourages the use of more environmentally friendly products and stimulates the development of practices that reduce VOC emissions.⁷

The Chinese government has also acknowledged the importance of controlling VOCs, which contribute to the deterioration of overall air quality.

For example, regulation GB/T 11890-1989 specifies how to sample and analyze VOCs in industrial wastewater and surface water by GC, while HJ 642-2013 outlines the methods for determining VOCs in soil and sediment using headspace-GC/MS.^8,9

Consequences of Rule Violations

Failing to adhere to EPA regulations can result in significant consequences. The EPA has the power to impose monetary fines or court orders for violations of its regulations and can take enforcement actions against various parties.¹⁰

For example, Amite, the Mississippi-based supplier of wood pellets, was fined $2.5 million after being found guilty of violating air pollution limits. Imposed by the Mississippi Department for Environmental Quality, the breach related to excessive levels of VOCs at the facility.¹¹

Solutions and Reference Materials by LGC Standards

As a world-leading life science tools company, LGC Standards provides high-quality materials and tools that simplify the sampling process, facilitate accurate environmental analysis and support the implementation of EPA methods.

For those testing for VOCs and SVOCs using EPA Methods 8270E and 8260D, LGC Standards offers an array of ready-made mixture reference materials.

Offering over 400 products found within the EPA methods, these include calibration, internal standard, and surrogate standard mixtures, all accredited to ISO 17034.

This accessible selection reduces the need for complicated method development, combining numerous components or running several analyses, ensuring that you can conduct analyses and audits safely and efficiently.

LGC’s surrogate standard for 8270E changes color in response to pH, setting LGC Standards apart in this industry. This enables independent visual confirmation to support your analysis, instilling confidence in your results.

In addition, its specialized sampling kits are tailored to meet the requirements of EPA methods and help to serve international VOC regulations, like those in the EU.

For example, the EPA 5035 sampling kit is designed to support soil sampling for Method 8260. This incorporates a pre-measured enclosed sampling system that streamlines sample collection and stops the loss of VOCs. Customers are guaranteed results that are timely and representative of the sample so they can take the appropriate response measures.

LGC is committed to supporting customers in solving complex real-world analysis problems, from assisting with loss of volatiles and changing regulations to troubleshooting issues during sample collection.

All in all, LGC is dedicated to providing innovative solutions through the power of science to bring about a safer world.

References and Further Reading

1. Liu X. (2022) Understanding Semi-volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) in Indoor Dust. Indoor and Built Environment. doi.org/10.1177/1420326x211070859.
2. U.S EPA. (2023). [Online] Technical Overview of Volatile Organic Compounds. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/technical-overview-volatile-organic-compounds (Accessed on 08 November 2023).
3. U.S EPA. (2023). [Online] Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality (Accessed on 08 November 2023).
4. U.S EPA. (2018). [Online] SW-846 Test Method 8260D: Volatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Available at: https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/sw-846-test-method-8260d-volatile-organic-compounds-gas-chromatographymass-spectrometry (Accessed on 08 November 2023).
5. U.S EPA. (2002). [Online] Validated Test Method 5035A: Closed-System Purge-and-Trap And Extraction For Volatile Organics In Soil And Waste Samples. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/validated-test-method-5035a-closed-system-purge-and-trap-and-extraction-volatile-organics (Accessed on 08 November 2023).
6. U.S. EPA. (2018). [Online] EPA Method 8270E (SW-846): Semivolatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Available at: https://www.epa.gov/esam/epa-method-8270e-sw-846-semivolatile-organic-compounds-gas-chromatographymass-spectrometry-gc (Accessed on 08 November 2023).
7. Official Journal of the European Union. (2004). Directive 2004/42/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32004L0042&from=EN
8. Chinese Standard. (2023). [Online] HJ 642-2013 (HJ642-2013). Available at: https://www.chinesestandard.net/PDF/English.aspx/HJ642-2013 (Accessed on 08 November 2023).
9. Chinese Standard. (2023). [Online] GB/T 11890-1989 (GBT11890-1989). Available at: https://www.chinesestandard.net/PDF/English.aspx/GBT11890-1989 (Accessed on 08 November 2023).
10. U.S EPA. (2023). [Online] Basic Information on Enforcement. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/basic-information-enforcement (Accessed on 08 November 2023).
11. BBC News. (2021) [Online] UK-owned pellet plant in US fined $2.5m over air quality breaches. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-56130166 (Accessed on 08 November 2023).

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by LGC Limited.

For more information on this source, please visit LGC Limited.