What is VOC emission?

VOCs emission refers to the process of releasing volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. These substances can participate in photochemical reactions and are key precursors to the formation of ozone and PM2.5. These compounds mainly come from industrial, transportation, and life activities, such as petroleum refining, chemical production, automobile exhaust, and paint use. VOCs are highly toxic and difficult to degrade, and they are very harmful to the environment and human health. Controlling VOCs emissions is an important part of air pollution prevention and control. Emissions are usually reduced through technical means such as closed equipment operation and waste gas collection and treatment.
VOCs outdoors mainly come from fuel combustion and transportation; indoors they mainly come from combustion products such as coal and natural gas, smoke from smoking, heating and cooking, emissions from building and decorative materials, furniture, household appliances, detergents and the human body itself.
VOCs can directly harm health: Many VOCs are toxic, irritating, carcinogenic or teratogenic. Short-term exposure can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, dizziness, nausea, etc.; long-term exposure may damage the liver, kidneys, nervous system, and increase the risk of cancer (such as benzene is a strong carcinogen).
Due to the serious hazards of VOCs, countries and regions around the world have formulated relevant regulations and standards to limit its emissions, such as:
1. Use raw materials, coatings, solvents, cleaning agents, etc. with low or no VOC content.
2. Improve production processes and equipment to reduce leakage and volatilization.
3. Install exhaust gas treatment devices, such as activated carbon adsorption, catalytic combustion, thermal storage combustion, biofiltration, etc.
4. Regularly detect leaks in equipment, pipelines, valves, etc. in petrochemical and other industries and repair them in time.
5. Set VOC content limits for consumer products such as paints and detergents.
6. Improve engines, use voc catalysts, control fuel evaporation, etc.

VOCs are key factors that cause ozone pollution, PM2.5 formation, health hazards and odor, and are therefore important targets for air pollution control.

author：Hazel
date:2025-06-06