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Effects
on
health
(US
Environmental
Agency):
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.
This is a problem we all need to
address. We can contact
manufacturers and we can insist on more
natural and organic materials.
The
following
quotes
from
the
US
Environmental
Agency:
"Volatile
organic
compounds
(VOCs)
are
emitted
as
gases
from
certain
solids
or
liquids.
VOCs
include
a
variety
of
chemicals,
some
of
which
may
have
short-
and
long-term
adverse
health
effects.
Concentrations
of
many
VOCs
are
consistently
higher
indoors
(up
to
ten
times
higher)
than
outdoors.
VOCs
are
emitted
by
a
wide
array
of
products
numbering
in
the
thousands.
Examples
include:
paints
and
lacquers,
paint
strippers,
cleaning
supplies,
pesticides,
building
materials
and
furnishings,
office
equipment
such
as
copiers
and
printers,
correction
fluids
and
carbonless
copy
paper,
graphics
and
craft
materials
including
glues
and
adhesives,
permanent
markers,
and
photographic
solutions.
Organic
chemicals
are
widely
used
as
ingredients
in
household
products.
Paints,
varnishes,
and
wax
all
contain
organic
solvents,
as
do
many
cleaning,
disinfecting,
cosmetic,
degreasing,
and
hobby
products.
Fuels
are
made
up
of
organic
chemicals.
All
of
these
products
can
release
organic
compounds
while
you
are
using
them,
and,
to
some
degree,
when
they
are
stored."
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